Question

Determine if a triangle with the given side lengths is a right triangle Select Right Triangle or Not a Right Triangle for each set of side lengths.

Answers 10cm, 6cm, 8cm right triangle or not
Answers 8cm, 17cm, 14cm, right trangle or not

Answer 1

We can use the Pythagorean Theorem A^2 + B^2 = C^2 

C is always the hypotenuse. In this case, the hypotenuse is 10, because it is the longest side on a triangle.

6^2 + 8^2 = 10^2
36 + 64 = 100 
This is a right triangle! 

In the second one, the 17 is the longest, therefore it's the hypotenuse.

8^2 + 14^2 = 17^2
64 + 196 = 289 
64 + 196 = 260
This is NOT a right triangle.