This introduction covers The Ancient Discovery within Pythagoras' Theorem for GCSE Mathematics. Revise Pythagoras' Theorem in Geometry & Measures for GCSE Mathematics with 17 exam-style questions and 3 flashcards. This topic appears regularly enough that it should still be part of a steady revision cycle. It is section 1 of 4 in this topic. Use this introduction to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
The Ancient Discovery
Over 2,500 years ago, Pythagoras discovered a beautiful relationship in right-angled triangles: if you square the two shorter sides and add them together, you get the square of the longest side (the hypotenuse). This works for EVERY right-angled triangle in the universe!
Visual: Pythagoras' Theorem
Practice questions for Pythagoras' Theorem
In a right-angled triangle with legs a and b and hypotenuse c, which formula is Pythagoras' theorem?
A triangle has sides of length 5 cm, 12 cm, and 13 cm. Explain how you can tell, without measuring any angles, whether this triangle contains a right angle.
Quick recall flashcards
Pythagoras Theorem
a² + b² = c² where c is hypotenuse
Pythagoras' Theorem
a² + b² = c² (where c is the hypotenuse)