Lesson 3.03 The Converse of the Pythagorean Theorem

• Introduction
• Learn
• Try It
• Task

Introduction

Previously, you learned about the Pythagorean Theorem and how this theorem can be used to find the missing side of a right triangle. If you were to write the converse of the Pythagorean Theorem, it would read something like "If the square of one side of a triangle is equal to the sum of the other two sides of the triangle, then the triangle is a right triangle." This will only work if the two sides of the equation are equal. However, we should also consider the type of triangle if the left side is less than the right side and vice versa.

In this lesson, you will explore what side lengths will create an acute triangle as well as what side lengths will create an obtuse triangle.