Pythagoras (569-500 B.C.E.) was born on the island of Samos in Greece, and did ... If we take an isosceles right triangle with legs of measure 1, the hypotenuse will measure sqrt 2. ... a^2 + b^2 = c^2. Hands On Activity. It is known that the Egyptians used a knotted rope as an aid to constructing right angles in their buildings.
