Thread: Pythagorean Triples Proof

Prove that the longer leg of a Pythagorean triple can never be twice the shorter leg.
I know that I need to prove this indirectly. I am just having trouble coming to a contradiction.

If one leg is twice the other leg, the hypotenuse is (5^.5) times the shorter leg.
That would not be a whole number.

Originally Posted by bearej50

Prove that the longer leg of a Pythagorean triple can never be twice the shorter leg.
I know that I need to prove this indirectly. I am just having trouble coming to a contradiction.

If and this is the contradition because that equation is impossible for positive integers.