Examples of Integer Right Triangles

EXAMPLE 4:

What is the measure of angle Q in the triangle on the right?

 SOLUTION:  This is not an isosceles or equilateral triangle, and we know only the side-lengths, so the answer is not obvious, but it might be a right triangle.  If we let c be the largest side-length and a and b the others, we check to see if :

?

 400 + 441 = 841

 841    =  841

It is a right triangle, and  is the hypotenuse.  Therefore angle Q is 90^o.

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