Pythagorean Theorem Calculator
Find the hypotenuse from two legs, or a missing leg from the hypotenuse, using a squared plus b squared equals c squared.
Independently verified for accuracy
Calculator by Toolsloft ↗- Hypotenuse (c)
- 5
Solve a right triangle with the Pythagorean theorem. Enter the two legs to find the hypotenuse, or enter the hypotenuse and one leg to find the missing leg. Useful for construction, framing, screen diagonals, and geometry homework.
How this is calculated
The theorem states a squared plus b squared equals c squared for a right triangle, where c is the hypotenuse. To find the hypotenuse the tool takes the square root of the sum of the squared legs. To find a leg it takes the square root of the hypotenuse squared minus the known leg squared, which requires the hypotenuse to be the longer side.
How to use
- Choose whether to solve for the hypotenuse or a leg.
- Enter the two known side lengths.
- Read the length of the missing side.
Examples
- Find the hypotenuse:
Legs 3 and 4 give a hypotenuse of 5 - Find a leg:
Hypotenuse 13 and leg 5 give the other leg 12
FAQ
- How do I find the hypotenuse?
- Square both legs, add them, and take the square root. For legs of 3 and 4 that is the square root of 9 plus 16, which is 5.
- Can I find a leg instead of the hypotenuse?
- Yes. Choose to solve for a leg, then enter the hypotenuse and the leg you know. The hypotenuse must be longer than the known leg, since it is always the longest side.