Hypotenuse of a Right Triangle

The hypotenuse of a right triangle is the side opposite the right angle of the triangle. Sometimes, each remaining side of the right angled triangle is called the leg of the right triangle. Below is the picture of the hypotenuse of a right triangle. The hipotenus to side of the right triangle leads to many theorems used in Geometry including the Pythagorean Theorem.

Picture of the hypotenuse of a right triangle

If we draw an altitude to the hypotenuse of the right triangle or a line that perpendicular to the hypotenuse, then CD divides the hypotenuse of the right triangle (AB) into two segments (AD and BD). This bisection of the hypotenuse of the right triangle is shown below. The segment AD of the hypotenuse of the right triangle is adjacent to AC and the segment BD of the hypotenuse is adjacent to BC.

There are now three triangles: ACD, CDB, and the original right triangle ABC. From this picture of the hypotenuse of the right triangle, we can conclude many proportions of the triangles.