Understanding Pythagorean Theorem

The first page introduces the fundamental concept of the Pythagorean theorem and its practical application in right-angled triangles. The theorem is expressed through the equation a² + b² = c², where c represents the hypotenuse and a and b represent the other two sides of the right triangle.

Definition: The Pythagorean theorem states that in a right-angled triangle, the square of the hypotenuse (longest side) equals the sum of squares of the other two sides.

Example: A right triangle with sides 2 and 4 has its hypotenuse calculated as follows: 2² + 4² = c² 4 + 16 = c² c = √20 ≈ 4.47

Highlight: Multiple worked examples demonstrate how to find missing sides using the theorem, including cases where the hypotenuse is known and one side needs to be calculated.