Why is it that the hypotenuse is the longest side of a right triangle?

junie · #1 28-06-2007, 17:06

what does it really mean? from what country of origin does the word hypotenuse came from?

K Sean · #2 28-06-2007, 17:25

The hypotenuse is the longest side because of the definition. By definition, the hypotenuse is the side opposite of the right angle in the triangle. Because a triangle is only made of of 180deg, and the right angle is 90deg...no other angle can be larger than the right angle, hence no side can be longer than the side opposite the largest angle.The word derives from the Greek hypo- ("under") and teinein ("to stretch").

mathworld.wolfram.com

HELEN LOOKING4 · #3 28-06-2007, 17:55

I think that this question should be in the geometry section not the geography.The hypotenuse is longer because it has further to go!I imagine it come from the Greek.

Jellicoe · #4 28-06-2007, 18:35

The word derives from the Greek. The longest side of a right-angled triangle is called the hypotenuse which is why the hypotenuse is always the longest side of a right-angled triangle.QED

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