Trigonometric functions establish useful relationships between the sides of a right triangle that exists within the perimeter ( circumference ) of a unit circle. We are now ready to see how the Pythagorean Theorem does this as well. In the right triangle below, the “ legs “ around the right angle are equal in length, but any length could have sufficed:
Let’s assume that sides ( a ) and ( b ) are two meters in length. This assumption will simplify the process of squaring each side as follows:
This image is a pictorial representation of having squared side ( a ) of the triangle. We are now ready to square sides ( b ) and ( c ):
Mathematically, the Pythagorean Theorem is expressed in the following manner:
a2 + b2 = c2
Side ( c ) of the triangle is referred to as the “ hypotenuse “. In general, if any two sides of a right triangle are known, the Pythagorean Theorem can be used to solve for the value of the unknown side in question.
RENAISSANCE PHYSICS 