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How Do You Determine if a Triangle Is a Right Triangle if You Know its Sides?

Determine whether a triangle with sides measuring 8, 18, and 20 is a right triangle.

Summary

  1. If this is a right triangle, then the sides will fit the Pythagorean theorem
  2. If it's not a right triangle, then the Pythagorean theorem won't work with the sides!
  3. The longest side of a triangle is always going to be 'c' in the Pythagorean theorem
  4. 8 squared is 64
  5. 18 squared is 324
  6. 20 squared is 400
  7. This triangle is not a right triangle!

Notes

    1. a, b, and c are the sides of the triangle, and c is usually the hypotenuse in a right triangle
    1. If this is a right triangle, then the sides will fit the Pythagorean theorem
    2. If it's not a right triangle, then the Pythagorean theorem won't work with the sides!
    1. 8 squared is 64
    2. 18 squared is 324
    3. 20 squared is 400