Pythagorean theorem four elementary lemmata: Next, each top square is related to a triangle congruent with another triangle related in turn to one of two rectangles making up the lower square. The proof is as follows: This proof, which appears in Euclid's "Elements" as that of Proposition 47 in Book 1, demonstrates that the area of the square on the hypotenuse is the sum of the areas of the other two squares. This is quite distinct from the proof by similarity of triangles, which is conjectured to be the proof that Pythagoras used. We have already discussed the Pythagorean proof, which was
Right triangle then with equality only in the isosceles case. If segments of lengths "p" and "q" emanating from vertex "C" trisect the hypotenuse into segments of length "c"/3, then The right triangle is the only triangle having two, rather than one or three, distinct inscribed squares. Let "h" and "k" ("h" > "k") be the sides of the two inscribed squares in a right triangle with hypotenuse "c". Then These sides and the incircle radius "r" are related by a similar formula: The perimeter of a right triangle equals the sum of the radii of the incircle and the three excircles: