Are there any sides you do not need to use the distance formula or Pythagorean Theorem to find the length of? If so, which one(s) and why?
Answers
Answer:
HERE IS YOUR ANSWER
Step-by-step explanation:
How To Measure Any Distance With The Pythagorean Theorem
We’ve underestimated the Pythagorean theorem all along. It’s not about triangles; it can apply to any shape. It’s not about a, b and c; it applies to any formula with a squared term.
It’s not about distance in the sense of walking diagonally across a room. It’s about any distance, like the “distance” between our movie preferences or colors.
If it can be measured, it can be compared with the Pythagorean Theorem. Let’s see why.
Understanding The Theorem
We agree the theorem works. In any right triangle:
If a=3 and b=4, then c=5. Easy, right?
Well, a key observation is that a and b are at right angles (notice the little red box). Movement in one direction has no impact on the other.
It’s a bit like North/South vs. East/West. Moving North does not change your East/West direction, and vice-versa — the directions are independent (the geek term is orthogonal).
The Pythagorean Theorem lets you use find the shortest path distance between orthogonal directions. So it’s not really about right triangles — it’s about comparing “things” moving at right angles.