A right triangle is a triangle with one right angle, and it has three sides: the hypotenuse and two catheti. To calculate the catheti of a right triangle, you need to know the length of the hypotenuse. This article will provide an overview of how to calculate the catheti of a right triangle when knowing the hypotenuse.
Calculating the Catheti of a Right Triangle
The hypotenuse is the longest side of a right triangle and it is the side opposite the right angle. To calculate the catheti of a right triangle with the known length of the hypotenuse, the Pythagorean Theorem is used. The Pythagorean Theorem states that the square of the length of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares of the lengths of the other two sides.
Knowing the Hypotenuse
To calculate the catheti of a right triangle when knowing the length of the hypotenuse, the Pythagorean Theorem is used. The equation for the Pythagorean Theorem is: c2 = a2 + b2, where c is the length of the hypotenuse, a and b are the lengths of the catheti.
To solve for the catheti when knowing the length of the hypotenuse, the equation can be rearranged to a2 = c2 – b2, and b2 = c2 – a2. To calculate the lengths of the catheti, the square root of the equation must be taken.
For example, if the length of the hypotenuse is 8, the lengths of the catheti can be calculated as follows: a2 = 82 – b2, and b2 = 82 – a2. Therefore, a = √64 – b2, and b = √64 – a2.
In conclusion, to calculate the catheti of a right triangle when knowing the length of the hypotenuse, the Pythagorean Theorem can be used. The equation for the Pythagorean Theorem is c2 = a2 + b2, and the equation can be rearranged to a2 = c2 – b2, and b2 = c2 – a2. To calculate the lengths of the catheti, the square root of the equation must be taken.