---
title: "Off the Number Line: Birth of a Right Triangle"
description: Teaching the Pythagorean theorem? This funny math cartoon starts the conversation with laughter!
image: https://2024.mindresearch.org/hubfs/Education/Archive/Off_the_Number_Line.jpg
---

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# Off the Number Line: Birth of a Right Triangle

By [Matthew Peterson and James Huang](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/author/matthew-peterson-and-james-huang)

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**![right triangle funny math cartoon](https://2024.mindresearch.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Photos/OTNL_BirthRightTriangle_10-1-15.jpg?width=650&height=650&name=OTNL_BirthRightTriangle_10-1-15.jpg "right triangle funny math cartoon")**

**Interviewer:**

Giving birth to a right triangle…that sounds painful!

**Cartoonist:**

It’s not an easy birth process, but it’s all worth it seeing those **two acute little angles** when they finally come out.

**Interviewer:**

I’m sure the mother’s feelings flip a full **180 degrees**! And what’s that math the doctor is proposing to perform?

**Cartoonist:**

That’s from the **Pythagorean theorem a² + b² = c²**. When you take the square root of both sides, you get √( a² + b²) equals c. So they are going to perform a “c” section. When they’re too big, it’s a lot easier to take the baby out through the **hypotenuse**!

**Interviewer:**

Hahaha! Where do you come up with these things? Too funny…looking forward to the next [Off the Number Line](http://blog.mindresearch.org/blog/topic/off-the-number-line) cartoon!

 

Read how educators are using [math cartoons in the classroom](http://blog.mindresearch.org/blog/math-cartoons-in-the-classroom)!

![Matthew Peterson and James Huang](https://2024.mindresearch.org/hubfs/Blog/Authors/MIND-profile-600x600.png)

### About the Author

Matthew Peterson, Ph.D., is Co-founder and Chief Research & Development Officer at the MIND Research Institute. James Huang is Senior Visual Designer at MIND Research Institute.

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