Finding the Hypotenuse of a Right Triangle

Finding distance on the coordinate plane

Today we will:

Use the Pythagorean Theorem to find the distance between points on the coordinate plane.

Multiple Choice

What is the Pythagorean Theorem?

• $$a^2+b^2=c^2$$

• $$a+b=c$$

Remember: the Pythagorean Theorem

• The hypotenuse is the longest side

• The hypotenuse is across from the right angle

Refresh: finding the hypotenuse

• In this triangle, what are a and b?

•  $a^2+b^2=c^2$  

•  $c=\sqrt{a^2+b^2}$  

Distance on the coordinate plane

• How can we draw a right triangle to find the distance between these two points?

Open Ended

What are the leg lengths of a right triangle we could draw?