Question

The dimensions of one of the sails on a sailboat are 9 feet, 12 feet, and 15 feet. Is the sail a right triangle?

Answer 1

In order to test if it’s a right triangle, we can try to apply Pythagorean theorem, which is x^2+y^2=z^2
Plug in the values: 9^2+12^2=15^2 to get 81+144=225
By far we can tell that this formula works, meaning that the sail is a right triangle.

Answer 2

yes

Explanation:

Using the converse of Pythagoras' identity

If the square of the longest side is equal to the sum of the squares of the other 2 sides then the triangle is right.

longest side = 15 , then 15² = 225

9² + 12² = 81 + 144 = 225

Thus the sail is a right triangle.