hypotenuse
UK: /haɪˈpɒtənjuːz/ | US: /haɪˈpɑːtənuːs/
n. The longest side of a right-angled triangle, opposite the right angle.
hypotenuse = hypo<under> + ten<stretch> + use<noun suffix>
- hypo (Greek hypo-, meaning "under")
- ten (Greek teinein, meaning "to stretch")
- use (Latin-derived noun suffix)
Etymology Origin:
The word "hypotenuse" originates from Greek hypoteinousa, meaning "stretching under" (the right angle). It reflects the geometric concept of the side "stretching beneath" the triangle's right angle. The term was adopted into Late Latin as hypotenusa and later into English, preserving its mathematical precision.
The hypotenuse of a right triangle can be calculated using the Pythagorean theorem.
Students measured the hypotenuse to verify the triangle's dimensions.
In the diagram, the hypotenuse is clearly labeled as side "c."
The length of the hypotenuse is always greater than that of the other two sides.
Ancient mathematicians first described the hypotenuse in geometric proofs.