A triangle has sides with lengths of 24 millimeters, 32 millimeters, and 43 millimeters. Is it a right triangle?

2 Answers
Dec 1, 2016

No.

Explanation:

You can check if a triangle is a right triangle if you know all three sides by using the formula:

a^2 + b^2 = c^2a2+b2=c2

Where aa and bb are the two non-hypotenuse sides, and cc is the hypotenuse's length (the longest side of the triangle).

If the formula turns out to be true, then the triangle is a right triangle.
If it is not true, then it is not a right triangle.

(24)^2 + (32)^2 = 576 + 1024 = 1600(24)2+(32)2=576+1024=1600.
(43)^2 = 1849(43)2=1849
1600 != 184916001849

Therefore, the triangle described is not a right triangle.

Dec 1, 2016

1600 != 184916001849 Therefore this is not a right triangle.

Explanation:

To determine if this is a right triangle you need to substitute the two legs of the triangle (24 and 32) and the hypotenuse (43) into the Pythagorean Theorem and see if both sides of the equation are equal. If they are it is a right triangle. If they are not equal this is not a right triangle.

The Pythagorean Theorem states:

a^2 + b^2 = c^2a2+b2=c2

Substituting gives:

24^2 + 32^2 = 43^2242+322=432

Calculating gives:

576 + 1024 = 1849576+1024=1849

1600 != 184916001849