Equations · Algebra and geometry
Pythagorean theorem
In a right triangle, the square of the longest side equals the sum of the squares of the other two.
a² + b² = c²
Aethel says
a squared plus b squared equals c squared
What it says
Take a triangle with one right angle. Call the two sides that form the right angle a and b, and the side opposite it, the hypotenuse, c. However the triangle is drawn, a squared plus b squared is exactly c squared.
It is how distances are measured: the distance between two points on a map or a screen is the square root of the sum of the squared differences of their coordinates.
Symbol by symbol
| Symbol | Say it | Means |
|---|---|---|
| a, b | a, b | the lengths of the two sides that meet at the right angle |
| c | c | the length of the hypotenuse, the side opposite the right angle |
| ² | squared | multiplied by itself |
Where you meet it
School geometry and trigonometry, and every distance formula in physics, computer graphics and data science.
Questions
How do you say Pythagorean theorem out loud?
a² + b² = c² is read: “a squared plus b squared equals c squared.” That is exactly what Aethel says when it meets the formula in a book.
What does a, b mean in Pythagorean theorem?
a, b (said “a, b”) is the lengths of the two sides that meet at the right angle.
What does c mean in Pythagorean theorem?
c (said “c”) is the length of the hypotenuse, the side opposite the right angle.
Can I listen to the equations in my own textbook like this?
Yes. Upload a PDF, EPUB or text file and Aethel reads it aloud with every equation spoken as maths, the way it reads this one, and highlights each sentence as it goes. You can start free.