The Pythagorean theorem is a great way to check if a triangle is a right triangle!

A right triangle has one angle that is exactly 90 degrees, like the corner of a square. The theorem tells us that the square of the longest side, called the hypotenuse, is the same as the sum of the squares of the other two sides.

You can write this as:

$$c^2 = a^2 + b^2$$

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

Steps to Check a Right Triangle

1. Find the Longest Side: Look for the side that is the longest. This is your hypotenuse ($c$). The other two sides are called legs and they are $a$ and $b$.

2. Measure Each Side: Use a ruler or measuring tape to find out how long each side is.

3. Put the Numbers into the Equation: Take the lengths you measured and put them into the formula: $c^2 = a^2 + b^2$.

4. Do the Math: Find out what $a^2$ and $b^2$ are, then add them together. Check if this equals $c^2$.

Conclusion

If both sides of the equation are equal, awesome! You have a right triangle. If not, then it's either an acute triangle (all angles less than 90 degrees) or an obtuse triangle (one angle greater than 90 degrees).

Math can be really fun! Learning how to use the Pythagorean Theorem opens up many possibilities in geometry. Keep practicing and having fun with it!