hypotenuse
pronunciation
How to pronounce hypotenuse in British English:
UK [haɪˈpɒtənju:z]
How to pronounce hypotenuse in American English:
US [haɪˈpɑtənus]
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- Noun:
- the side of a right triangle opposite the right angle
Word Origin
- hypotenuse
- hypotenuse: [16] The hypotenuse is etymologically a line that is ‘stretched under’ the right angle of a triangle. The word comes via Latin hypotēnūsa from Greek hupoteínousa, a derivative of hupoteínein. This was a compound verb formed from the prefix hupo- ‘under’ and teínein ‘stretch’ (a relative of English tend, tense, etc).=> tend, tense
- hypotenuse (n.)
- 1570s, from Late Latin hypotenusa, from Greek hypoteinousa "stretching under" (the right angle), fem. present participle of hypoteinein, from hypo- "under" (see sub-) + teinein "to stretch" (see tenet). Formerly often erroneously hypothenuse.
Example
- 1. You need the lenght of the hypotenuse .
- 2. What was it ? Same as the square root of a hypotenuse !
- 3. Make sure that the program finds a right triangle , regardless of which side is the hypotenuse .
- 4. Right-angle mirrors are made from right-angle prisms by applying an enhanced al coating on the hypotenuse of the prism .