SOLUTION: When the question says Determine whether a triangle with the given side lengths is a right angle I just don't get it. They will give numbers like 8 m, 15 m, 17 m. And I don't know

Algebra ->  Pythagorean-theorem -> SOLUTION: When the question says Determine whether a triangle with the given side lengths is a right angle I just don't get it. They will give numbers like 8 m, 15 m, 17 m. And I don't know       Log On


   

Question 28084: When the question says Determine whether a triangle with the given side lengths is a right angle I just don't get it. They will give numbers like 8 m, 15 m, 17 m. And I don't know how to make sure it's a right angle
Answer by longjonsilver(2297) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
In a right-angled triangle, the square of the longest side (the hypotenuse) IS equal to the sum of the squares of the other 2 sides:

So, if 17%5E2 is the same as 8%5E2%2B15%5E2 then the triangle IS right-angled.

17%5E2 is 289
8%5E2%2B15%5E2 is 64 + 225 which is also 289

so this IS a right-angled triangle.

jon.