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45-45-90 triangle calculator

The two equal legs meet at 90°. Side c is the hypotenuse and also the diagonal of the square made by reflecting the triangle across it.

Calculator

Side a
2
Side b
2
Side c
2.82843
Triangle area
2
Perimeter
6.82843
Altitude to hypotenuse
1.41421
Area of the completed square
4
Circumradius
1.41421
Inradius
0.585786
Isosceles right triangle relationships
QuantityIn terms of leg a
Each acute angle45°
Hypotenuse c√2 a
Altitude to ca/√2
Triangle areaa²/2
Completed square areaa²

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How this calculator works

Equal legs imply equal acute angles. They share the 90° left after the right angle, so each measures 45°. Pythagoras makes the diagonal √2 times either leg. Reflecting across the diagonal forms a square with twice the triangle’s area. The altitude to the hypotenuse is half the hypotenuse and bisects it.

Formula

a=b; c=√2 a; K=a²/2=c²/4; P=(2+√2)a; h=c/2; square area=a²; R=c/2; r=a-c/2.

Worked example

Equal legs of 6 cm give c=6√2 cm, area 18 cm² and a completed square of 36 cm². A hypotenuse of 10 m gives each leg 5√2 m and triangle area 25 m².

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Frequently asked questions

Can either leg be entered?

Yes. Both have the same length, so there is no short-leg versus long-leg choice.

Why does area equal one quarter of c squared?

Substituting a=c/√2 into K=a²/2 gives K=c²/4.

What is the square-diagonal connection?

A square’s diagonal divides it into two congruent 45°-45°-90° triangles. Its side is a and diagonal is c.

Sources

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