1 3 Three combinations of sides occur so often they should be memorized. The first one is a 3, 4, 5 triangle. Whenever the legs are 3 and 4 in a right triangle the hypotenuse will be 5. This is true for any multiple of 3, 4, 5 as well. Pythagorean Triples 4 5 32 + 42 = 52 9 + 16 = 25 25 = 25 10 8 6 2 8 16 15 3 Another common triple is 5,12,13. When the legs are 5 and 12 the hypotenuse will be 13. Pythagorean Triple 25 + 144 = 169 52 + 122 = 132 169 = 169 4 36 5 Another common triple is 8,15,17. When the legs are 8 and 15 the hypotenuse will be 17. Pythagorean Triple 64 + 225 = 289 82 + 152 = 172 289 = 289 6 51 |