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Converse Of Pythagoras Theorem

Theorem: in a triangle, if the square of one side is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides, then the angle opposite to the first side is a right angle.

Prerequisites:
Pythagoras theorem (proof)
SSS congruence (proof)

Proof:

Let there be a \triangle ABC, such that:

\qquad\quad AB^2 + BC^2 = AC^2

We need to prove that \triangle ABC is a right triangle. For this, we construct a right triangle \triangle PQR, right angled at Q, such that PQ = AB and QR = BC.

Since, \triangle PQR is a right triangle, hence by using pythagoras theorem, we get:

\qquad\quad PQ^2 + QR^2 = PR^2\\ \Rightarrow\quad\;\; AB^2 + BC^2 = PR^2\qquad\qquad\qquad\text{(by construction)}\qquad\qquad\!\cdots\text{(1)}
But, \quad AB^2 + BC^2 = AC^2\qquad\qquad\qquad\text{(given)}\qquad\qquad\qquad\qquad\;\cdots\text{(2)}

From (1) and (2),

\qquad\quad PR^2 = AC^2\\ \Rightarrow\quad\;\; PR = AC

Also, since PQ = AB and QR = BC by construction, hence by SSS congruency rule,

\qquad\quad\triangle ABC\cong\triangle PQR
\Rightarrow\quad\;\;\angle B = \angle Q
But, \quad\angle Q = 90^o
\therefore\quad\;\;\;\angle B = 90^o

Thus, \triangle ABC is a right triangle, right angled at B.

Q.E.D.

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