One of the challenges when creating an angle is making it a right angle. While your room doesn't need to be a perfect square, it's best to get corners that are closer to 90 degrees. Otherwise, the tile or carpet will clearly look 'tilted' from one side of the room to the other. The 3-4-5 method is also useful for smaller woodworking projects, to ensure that all parts will fit exactly as planned.
Step
Method 1 of 1: Using the 3-4-5. Rule
Step 1. Understand the 3-4-5 rule
If a triangle has sides measuring 3, 4, and 5 meters (or any other unit), it must be a right triangle with an angle of 90º between the short sides. If you can "find" the triangle in the corner of the room, you know it's a right angle. This rule is based on the Pythagorean Theorem in geometry: A2 + B2 = C2 for a right triangle. C is the longest side (called the hypotenuse or hypotenuse) while A and B are the two shorter "legs".
3-4-5 is a very good measure to check because they are all integers, small. Mathematical check: 32 + 42 = 9 + 16 = 25 = 52.
Step 2. Measure three units starting from the corner of the room to one side
You can use meters, feet (feet), or other units. Mark the ends of the three units you are measuring.
You can multiply each number by the same amount and keep the number. Try 30-40-50 centimeters if using the metric system. For large spaces, use 6-8-10 or 9-12-15 meters or feet
Step 3. Measure four units along the other side
Using the same units, measure the second side–hope–at a 90º angle for the first. Mark the ends on four units.
Step 4. Measure the distance between the two marks you have made
If the distance is 5 units, the angle is a right angle.
- If the distance is less than 5 units, the measure of the angle is less than 90º. Spread the two sides apart.
- If the distance is more than 5 units, the angle measures more than 90º. Bring the sides together.
Tips
- This method can be more accurate than using a carpenter's elbow (or pasekon), which may be too small to get the exact size of an even longer side.
- The larger the unit, the more accurate your results will be.