- The Pythagorean Theorem can be used to measure lengths that are not easy to measure: things leaning against walls, sides of buildings, tree heights that cast a shadow.
- It can also be used to see of a corner is straight – if two sides’ lengths are individually squared, add them. If the squared third side is equal to the sum of those two squared sides, then the corner is a right triangle and the Theorem applies.
- Practical application of the above: if you want to know if a fence’s corner is straight, go out make a diagonal line between sides “a” and “b” (these are the sides that form the questionable 90º corner). Now measure them and the diagonal. Square each of those 3 numbers. Add those squares of “a” and “b”, and compare that number to the square of “c”. If they are the same, the fence corner is a right triangle. Tip: if you mark side “a” at 3 meters, and side “b” at 4 meters, then the diagonal will be 5 meters if that corner is square.