In 1-2 sentences, explain why a Pythagorean triple cannot be created by using x = 3 and y = 6.

1 answer

A Pythagorean triple consists of three positive integers \(a\), \(b\), and \(c\) such that \(a^2 + b^2 = c^2\). Using \(x = 3\) and \(y = 6\) gives \(3^2 + 6^2 = 9 + 36 = 45\), which is not a perfect square, so it cannot form a Pythagorean triple.