Pythagorean Theorem Worksheets - Free Printable

To find the length of the hypotenuse, we will use the Pythagorean theorem formula shown in the guide: $a^2 + b^2 = c^2$.

Step 1: Identify the known values.
The problem gives us the lengths of the two shorter sides (the base and the height):
* $a = 3$ cm
* $b = 4$ cm

Step 2: Plug these numbers into the formula.
$$3^2 + 4^2 = c^2$$

Step 3: Square the numbers.
* $3^2$ means $3 \times 3$, which equals $9$.
* $4^2$ means $4 \times 4$, which equals $16$.

Now the equation looks like this:
$$9 + 16 = c^2$$

Step 4: Add the numbers together.
$$25 = c^2$$

Step 5: Find the square root.
To find $c$, we need to find a number that equals 25 when multiplied by itself.
Since $5 \times 5 = 25$, the square root of 25 is 5.

$$c = 5$$

Final Answer:
The length of the hypotenuse is 5 cm.