The Pythagorean theorem is true for all right triangles.

True or false?

I pretty sure this is true please explain.

Question

The Pythagorean theorem is true for all right triangles. 

True or false?

I pretty sure this is true please explain.

turingtest · Answer

explaining this one is tough... you don't happen to know the law of cosines yet, do you?

anonymous · Answer

we could always give him the visual proof. :) http://www.dbai.tuwien.ac.at/proj/pf2html/proofs/pythagoras/pythagoras/pythagoras6.gif

kj4uts · Answer

Its okay I don't need an explanation im like 99% sure this is true just wanted to check.

thesmartone · Answer

Well then in that case it is true...

kj4uts · Answer

@bloopman I will check that out it would be nice to know why but if it cant be explained its okay

anonymous · Answer

basically, as you know, the Pythagorean theorem states that, for any right triangle:
a^2 + b^2 = c^2
note there are four right triangles in both the left square and right square in the image posted above.
you'll find that the triangles are of the same dimensions. so if you subtract the same four congruent triangles from the same square, just in a "different way", then the area left over is the same.
a^2 and b^2 combined is basically the same as c^2, they're just separated by a different order of the triangles on the left side