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How to Prove an Isosceles Right Triangle

The term "isosceles triangle" refers to a three-sided shape in which two of the sides have an equal length, while a right triangle is one that has one angle that is exactly 90 degrees. These conditions dictate that the angles made between the equal sides and the third (longest) side are equal. As well, because no angle in a right triangle can be greater than 90, the right angle must be where the equal sides meet and the last two angles must be 45 degrees each. Any of these can be used to prove an isosceles right angle.

Instructions

    • 1

      Prove that two sides of the triangle are equal. This shows the triangle is isosceles and that the angles these sides make with the third side are equal. If one of these angles is proved as 45 degrees, the other must be 45 and the third is therefore 90 and the shape is an isosceles right triangle. A triangle's angles must add up to 180 degrees.

    • 2

      Prove that two angles on either end of a single side are equal. This can be done alternatively to prove that the sides themselves are equal. If the two angles are equal, the two lines are equal and the triangle is isosceles. Prove that one of these angles is equal to 45 degrees and that therefore the other is also the same and the third is a right angle. The shape is then an isosceles right triangle.

    • 3

      Prove that there is a right angle (90 degrees) in the triangle. The presence of a right angle in any triangle makes it a right triangle. If the two sides that create the right angle are equal, the other two angles are equal to 45 degrees and the shape is therefore an isosceles right triangle.

    • 4

      Show that the ratio among the smaller sides and the hypotenuse is 1:1:√2. This is a property of an isosceles right triangle.

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