GED Math Practice Test

What is the formula given by the Pythagorean theorem?

1. a²+b²=c²

2. c²=a²-b²

3. a²=b²+c²

4. c²+b²=a²

The correct answer is: a²+b²=c²

The Pythagorean theorem is a fundamental principle in geometry that relates the lengths of the sides of a right triangle. When we denote the lengths of the two legs of the triangle as "a" and "b," and the length of the hypotenuse (the side opposite the right angle) as "c," the theorem states that the square of the length of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares of the lengths of the other two sides. This relationship is succinctly expressed with the formula \( a² + b² = c² \). This formula is especially useful for determining the length of one side of a triangle when the other two sides are known, and it plays a crucial role in various applications across mathematics and physics. Thus, the correct answer clearly aligns with the established definition of the Pythagorean theorem.