Question

The sides of certain triangles are given below. Determine which of them are right triangles.

a = 7 cm, b = 24 cm and c = 25 cm

Answer 1

Given: a = 7 cm, b = 24 cm, c = 25 cm

Identify the largest side as the possible hypotenuse: c = 25 cm.

Compute a² + b² = 7² + 24²

= 49 + 576

= 625

Compute c² = 25²

= 625

Since a² + b² = c², the Pythagorean relation holds (use of Pythagoras’ theorem).

The triangle with sides 7 cm, 24 cm and 25 cm is a right triangle (right-angled between the 7 cm and 24 cm sides).