Solution: How to Check if the Pythagorean Theorem Holds

Coding or math enthusiasts know the power of the Pythagorean Theorem—a fundamental principle in geometry that applies to right-angled triangles. Whether you're a student learning the theorem or a programmer validating geometric relationships in an app, knowing how to check if the theorem holds is essential.

This article explores practical solutions to verify whether the Pythagorean Theorem a = b² + c² is true for any triangle, with a special focus on right triangles, and how you can automate this check using Python.

Understanding the Context


📐 What is the Pythagorean Theorem?

The Pythagorean Theorem states that in a right-angled triangle, the square of the length of the hypotenuse (the side opposite the right angle) is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides:

a² + b² = c²,

where c is the hypotenuse, and a and b are the other two sides.

Key Insights

⚠️ Important: The theorem only holds for right-angled triangles. If the triangle isn’t right-angled, this equation will not hold.


✅ How to Check if the Pythagorean Theorem Holds

Here’s a step-by-step guide to determine whether a triangle satisfies the Pythagorean Theorem:

1. Identify the Triangle Type
Ensure the triangle has a right angle. This is crucial—otherwise, the theorem is not applicable.

Final Thoughts

2. Measure the Side Lengths
Let a, b, and c be the lengths of the triangle’s sides. Identify the hypotenuse—this is the longest side.

3. Apply the Theorem
Check if:

a² + b² = c²

or

a² + c² = b²  or  b² + c² = a²

Depending on which side is the hypotenuse.


💻 Programmatically Check the Theorem Using Python

Automating this verification is useful for educational tools, geometry validation, or geometry-based games. Below is a simple and robust Python solution.

💡 Sample Python Code to Check the Pythagorean Theorem


# Test examples</code></pre><p>test_cases = [<br/>    (3, 4, 5),    # Right triangle<br/>    (5, 12, 13),  # Right triangle<br/>    (1, 1, 1),    # Not right-angled<br/>    (0, 0, 0),    # Degenerate case<br/>    (2.5, 3.5, 4.5),  # Approximate right triangle<br/>]

for a, b, c in test_cases:<br/>    result = checks_pythagorean(a, b, c)<br/>    print(f"Checking {a}, {b}, {c} → {'✅ Holds Theorem' if result else '❌ Does NOT hold'}")<br/><code>``

### 🔍 Explanation of the Code:- The function sorts the sides so the largest is assumed to be the hypotenuse.- It checks the equation with a small tolerance (</code>1e-9<code>) to account for floating-point precision issues.- The test cases include both valid right triangles and real-world approximations.