Final answer:
Yes, the Pythagorean theorem can be used on non-right triangles by extending one side to create a right triangle.
Step-by-step explanation:
Yes, the Pythagorean theorem can be used on non-right triangles. The Pythagorean theorem states that in a right triangle, the sum of the squares of the lengths of the two legs is equal to the square of the length of the hypotenuse (a² + b² = c²). However, it can also be applied to non-right triangles by extending one side to create a right triangle and then using the theorem.
For example, consider a triangle with side lengths of 3, 4, and 5. This is a right triangle, and the theorem can be used to calculate the missing side length. Now imagine another triangle with side lengths of 6, 8, and a missing side length. By extending one side to form a right triangle, we can use the theorem to find the missing side length.