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=**The Pythagorean Theorem**=


 * The pythagorean theorem is a mathematical formula used to find the length of the third side of a right triangle, by using the length of the other two.**


 * The basic formula of the Pythagorean Theorem is: a 2 + b 2 = c 2 **

This formula can be used to find the hypotenuse of this right triangle.

a = 4 b = 5 c (hypotenuse) is unknown.


 * Since** **a 2 + b 2 = c 2, we can replace a with 4, and b with 5.**


 * 4 2 + 5 2 = c 2 **

**Now, square the values: 4x4 = 16, and 5x5 = 25.**


 * Therefore, 16+25 = c 2 **


 * The next step is to determine what c 2 is, by adding a 2 and b 2 (in this case, 16 and 25).

16+25= 41

So now we know that 41=****c 2 **


 * We are almost done determining the length of that unmeasured hypotenuse. All that is left to do is find the square root of 41, which is roughly 6.4. So, c=6.4**


 * a=4, b=5, c=6.4**


 * The hypotenuse is not the only use for the Pythagorean Theorem. It can also be used to determine the length of one of the legs, so long as the length of the hypotenuse and the other leg are known.** Finding the length of a leg, when the value of the other leg, and hypotenuse are known.