CalcaTools

Right Triangle Calculator

A right triangle calculator finds the hypotenuse, area, perimeter, and angles of a right triangle from its two legs using the Pythagorean theorem.

Last updated: June 2026 · Free · No sign-up required

Results

Enter values above and click Calculate to see your result instantly.

Quick reference

KnownFind
Two legs a, bc = √(a² + b²)
Leg & hypotenuseother leg = √(c² − a²)
Side & angleUse sin, cos, tan
Area½ × a × b
AnglesA + B = 90°

functions Shows the working, not just the answer

For students and teachers, the final number is only half the value. Every math tool here exposes the formula it applied, the intermediate steps, and the rounding rule, so you can follow along, check your homework, or use the answer in a proof or report with confidence.

calculate Accurate to the spec

Calculations use 64-bit floating point with sensible rounding for the domain (currency to 2 decimals, percentages to 4 decimals, algebra to 6 significant figures). Where exact rational arithmetic matters — fractions, factorials, simplification — we use a dedicated BigNumber path so 1/3 + 1/6 returns ½, not 0.49999.

school Free for classroom use

Educators are welcome to link to any math calculator on CalcaTools from a class site, Google Classroom, or worksheet. The pages are mobile-friendly, free, ad-supported (so we can keep them free) and have no sign-up wall — students just click and use them in class or at home.

tips_and_updates Pair with the spoke articles

Below the calculator we link a small set of plain-English explainer pages — "What is a percentage?", "Why does PEMDAS matter?", and so on. They cover the underlying concept in 4–6 short paragraphs. Read those before the calculator if the topic is new, or after if you want the extra context.

Interpretation guide

RelationshipTrig ratio
sin(A)opposite / hypotenuse
cos(A)adjacent / hypotenuse
tan(A)opposite / adjacent
Pythagorasa² + b² = c²
Acute anglesAlways sum to 90°

Formula & methodology

Formula: a² + b² = c² · tan(A) = opposite / adjacent

How the result is calculated

A right triangle has one 90° angle, so the Pythagorean theorem links the two legs and the hypotenuse, while the basic trig ratios connect the sides to the acute angles. Any two independent values fix the whole triangle.

  1. Identify which sides and angles you know (the right angle is always 90°).
  2. Use a² + b² = c² for a missing side, or sin/cos/tan for a missing angle.
  3. Find the remaining angle from A + B = 90° and the area as ½·a·b.

Example

Legs 3 and 4: hypotenuse c = √(9 + 16) = 5. Angle A = arctan(3/4) = 36.87°, B = 53.13°, area = ½ × 3 × 4 = 6.

Frequently asked questions

How do you solve a right triangle?
Use the Pythagorean theorem (a² + b² = c²) to find missing sides and the sine, cosine or tangent ratios to find angles. Two known values, with the 90° angle, determine everything else.
What is the Pythagorean theorem?
In a right triangle, the square of the hypotenuse equals the sum of the squares of the two legs: a² + b² = c². It lets you find any side when the other two are known.
How do I find an angle in a right triangle?
Use inverse trig. For example, the angle whose opposite and adjacent legs are 3 and 4 is arctan(3/4) = 36.87°. The other acute angle is 90° minus that.
What is a 3-4-5 triangle?
It is the best-known Pythagorean triple: a right triangle with legs 3 and 4 and hypotenuse 5, since 3² + 4² = 5². Builders use it to check for square corners.
How do I find the area of a right triangle?
Multiply the two legs and halve the result: area = ½ × a × b. For legs 3 and 4 the area is 6 square units.