Final answer:
To determine whether a triangle is a right isosceles or just an isosceles triangle, use the side lengths and check if they satisfy the Pythagorean theorem for a right angle and look for at least two sides of equal length for it to be isosceles.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine if a triangle is a right isosceles or simply an isosceles triangle, we need to examine the lengths of its sides and the measurements of its angles. An isosceles triangle has at least two sides of equal length. If it also has a right angle (90 degrees), then it can be classified as a right isosceles triangle.
Using the Pythagorean theorem, which states that in a right triangle, the sum of the squares of the two legs (a and b) is equal to the square of the hypotenuse (c), as given by the equation a² + b² = c², we can check for the presence of a right angle.
If the given sides satisfy this theorem, then the triangle is a right triangle. Moreover, if two sides are equal in length, and the Pythagorean theorem holds true, then the triangle is indeed a right isosceles triangle.
Otherwise, if no angle is 90 degrees but two sides are equal, it is solely an isosceles triangle.