Skip to main content
Pythagoras and trigonometry
Lesson 4 of 14

Pythagoras' theorem

Objective. Find a missing side in a right-angled triangle.

The key idea

a² + b² = c², where c is always the hypotenuse — the side opposite the right angle.

Worked example

A right triangle has legs 5 cm and 12 cm. Find the hypotenuse.

Diagram of a triangle
  1. 15² + 12² = 25 + 144 = 169.
  2. 2√169 = 13.

Answer: 13 cm

Practice

Each question comes with a picture and a listen button. Try it first, then reveal the answer.

Your progress

Tick each step as you finish it — Continue brings you back here.

0 of 4 steps complete

My dashboard