Calculate the hypotenuse, find missing sides, and check for 3-4-5 triangles with our free Pythagorean theorem calculator
Calculate the hypotenuse (c) when you know the two other sides (a and b)
Calculate side a when you know side b and the hypotenuse (c)
Calculate side b when you know side a and the hypotenuse (c)
Check if a triangle is a 3-4-5 triangle (or a scaled version)
The Pythagorean theorem is a fundamental principle in geometry that relates the three sides of a right triangle. It states that in a right triangle, the square of the length of the hypotenuse (the side opposite the right angle) is equal to the sum of the squares of the lengths of the other two sides. This theorem is named after the ancient Greek mathematician Pythagoras and is one of the most well-known and widely used theorems in mathematics.
The theorem is expressed as:
The Pythagorean theorem is used in many real-world applications, including construction (ensuring corners are square), navigation (calculating distances), computer graphics (calculating distances between points), and engineering (determining lengths and angles in structures).
Here are several everyday situations that show how easy it is to use our Pythagorean theorem calculator.
These examples show how our Pythagorean theorem calculator can handle:
You can adapt any real-life situation involving right triangles to one of these patterns and let the calculator do the work for you.