How to Find the Hypotenuse

The phrase "find the hypotenuse" can sound like a foreign language to a math student who is not familiar with the term. The hypotenuse is a special name for the longest side of a right triangle. A right triangle is a triangle that has an angle measuring 90 degrees. Here is an easy step by step guide to finding the hypotenuse.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. To find the hypotenuse, you will need to use the Pythagorean Theorem. This formula uses the measurements of the other two sides of the triangle to find the longest side. Before you start to find the hypotenuse, make sure that the measurements of the two sides are in the same unit (inches, feet, etc.).

2. 
   measure one side of the triangle

   Begin by finding the length of one side of the triangle, and multiply it by itself. In other words, find the square of this measurement.

3. In a separate calculation, find the square of the other side of the right angle. (Multiply the measurement by itself.)

4. 
   Find the sum

   Add the two calculations together to find the sum.

5. 
   Find the square root of the sum to calculate the hypotenuse

   Find the square root of the sum. This is the hypotenuse of the triangle.

Tips & Warnings

• Always go back and re-do the calculation to double check your math.