Interactive Pythagoras in the Plane

Drag point B to change the right triangle. The legs lie along the axes, and the squares on each side show that a² + b² = c².

Triangle & Squares

A is fixed at the origin (0,0). C lies on the x-axis. B is free in the plane, but the right angle is always at A.

Let a be the vertical leg, b the horizontal leg, and c the hypotenuse.

a = – b = – c = –

a² = –, b² = –, c² = –

a² + b² = –

Hints

• Drag point B anywhere: the legs stay aligned with the axes.

• The green square has area a², the orange square has area b², and the pink square has area c².

• Watch how a² + b² matches c² as you move B.