What property does a right triangle have?

A right triangle is defined by having one angle that measures exactly 90 degrees. This characteristic is fundamental to its classification; the presence of this right angle differentiates it from other types of triangles, such as acute triangles, which have all angles less than 90 degrees, and obtuse triangles, which have one angle greater than 90 degrees.

The concept of right triangles is essential in various geometric applications, including the Pythagorean theorem, which relates the lengths of the sides of a right triangle. The unique properties of right triangles also make them crucial in trigonometry where the relationships between the angles and the sides can be explored through sine, cosine, and tangent functions.

In contrast, triangles with angles measuring less than or greater than 90 degrees do not have the defining properties of a right triangle. Similarly, while there are triangles with sides in proportion, this characteristic is not exclusive to right triangles; it applies to similar triangles. Additionally, the classification of an equilateral triangle, where all three sides are equal, is distinct from that of a right triangle, as an equilateral triangle does not necessarily contain a right angle. Thus, the unique property of having one angle that is exactly 90 degrees is what classifies a triangle as