If the length of side AB is 17, is triangle ABC a right tria

Yes, the reverse of Pythagorean theorem is also true: for any triangle with sides a, b, and c, if a^2+b^2=c^2, then the angle between the sides a and b is 90 degrees.

(1) INSUFFICIENT: With only two sides of the triangle, it is impossible to determine whether a2 + b2 = c2.

(2) INSUFFICIENT: With only two sides of the triangle, it is impossible to determine whether a2 + b2 = c2.

(1) AND (2) SUFFICIENT: With all three side lengths, we can determine if a2 + b2 = c2. It turns out that 172 + 1442 = 1452, so this is a right triangle. However, even if it were not a right triangle, this formula would still be sufficient, so it is unnecessary to finish the calculation.

Hi Experts,
Do we really see such calculation intensive Questions on GMAT?
Regards,
Sachin

Actually there is no intensive calculation involved. The only calculation required here is to check - when combining statement 1 and 2, a triangle can be formed or not, that is sum of 2 lengths is greater than third or not.
Once it is known that a triangle can be formed and you have lenght of each side, you have sufficient details to answer if it is a right angle or not. Data sufficiency question wants to know only that. you dont need to apply theorem to calculate it.

I beg to differ..
Its already stated that it is a triangle, Our job is to check if its a right angled triangle..and to check that we need to apply the theorem of the great pythagorus and this application of theorem in my opinion is calculation intensive.

Regards,
Sachin

Please check the following post to see that no calculations are needed to solve the question: if-the-length-of-side-ab-is-17-is-triangle-abc-a-right-tria-127069.html#p1039631

Oh yeah..

Its only a DS Question not a PS.

Thanks Bunuel..

For such large calculations, how do you find out that it's a right triangle? Thanks.

Did you read the replies in this thread? The question is whether we have sufficient information to determine whether it is a right triangle. The question is NOT whether it is a right triangle.

We know all 3 sides of the triangle. Therefore, we have sufficient information to determine whether it is a right triangle. It is NOT necessary to actually calculate whether it indeed is one.

Ya, makes sense, thanks again.

For a triangle to be isosceles triangle sides of the triangle must follow a2 + b2 = c2 where ‘c’ is the largest side of the triangle.
Statement 1. Here, we know the length of 2 sides but we are still unaware of the third side. So, we can use the above given equation. Hence, Insufficient.
Statement 2. We know the length of 2 sides of the triangle but we are unaware of the third side of the triangle. So, we can’t use the above equation. Hence, Insufficient.
Statement 1 & 2 together. Using the data given in the question statement and statement 1 and 2 together, we know all three sides of triangle.
1442 + 172 = 20736 + 289 = 21025 = 1452.
So, the triangle is a right triangle. Hence, Sufficient.

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