Question

Can a right triangle be formed if a = 16, b = 12, and c = 20?

Answer 1

Yes, a right triangle can be formed with these side lengths.
According to the Pythagorean theorem, in a right triangle, the square of the length of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares of the lengths of the other two sides.
In this case, a = 16, b = 12, and c = 20.
If we square the lengths of these sides, we get:
a^2 = 16^2 = 256
b^2 = 12^2 = 144
c^2 = 20^2 = 400
According to the Pythagorean theorem, a^2 + b^2 = c^2 should hold true for a right triangle.
Let's verify it:
256 + 144 = 400
So, a^2 + b^2 = c^2. Therefore, a right triangle can be formed with these side lengths.