Machinist Triangle Calculator
Machinists often know two sides of a right triangle and need the third side or an angle. Enter the two sides and this gives the hypotenuse and the angle opposite side A.
- Free
- Works offline after your first visit
- Saves on this device
- No sign-up
- Updated
How it works
The hypotenuse is the square root of side A squared plus side B squared, which is the Pythagorean theorem. The angle opposite side A is the arctangent of side A divided by side B.
Sides can be entered in any length unit, and the hypotenuse is shown in the unit chosen. The angle is always in degrees.
Worked example
Sides of 3 in and 4 in make a hypotenuse of 5 in, with an angle of 36.87 degrees opposite side A.
Questions
What if I know the hypotenuse and one side?
This version takes the two legs. With the hypotenuse and one leg known, rearrange the same theorem to find the other leg.
Does this work for other triangles?
No. The formulas assume a 90 degree corner between the two sides, so use a different method for other triangles.
Why are angles in degrees?
Shop drawings and most measuring tools read angles in degrees, so the result uses the same scale.
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