Pythagorean theorem

American  

noun

Geometry.

1. the theorem that the square of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides.

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Pythagorean theorem Scientific  

/ pĭ-thăg′ə-rē′ən /

1. A theorem stating that the square of the length of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is equal to the sum of the squares of the lengths of the other sides. It is mathematically stated as c ² = a ² + b ², where c is the length of the hypotenuse and a and b the lengths of the other two sides.

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Etymology

Origin of Pythagorean theorem

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Pythagorean theorem

If verified, Johnson and Jackson’s proof would contradict mathematician and educator Elisha Loomis, who stated in his 1927 book The Pythagorean Proposition that no trigonometric proof of the Pythagorean theorem could be correct.

From Scientific American ● Apr. 10, 2023

Loomis believed that if you used these functions in a proof of the Pythagorean theorem, you would have assumed the theorem to begin with—a circular argument and thus an unforgivable mathematical error.

From Scientific American ● Apr. 10, 2023

Fortunately, there’s a much easier way to use the Pythagorean theorem on a job site.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 12, 2022

The two legs of the trip and the straight-line path form a right triangle, and so the Pythagorean theorem, a2 + b2 = c2 , can be used to find the straight-line distance.

From Textbooks ● Aug. 12, 2015

That learning about the Pythagorean theorem and arpeggios and dissecting worms is the only thing that could keep her mind off it.

From "P.S. I Miss You" by Jen Petro-Roy