Why do you need absolute values when you write expressions for the lengths
of the legs, but not when you write the relationship in terms of the
Pythagorean Theorem?

Graph a triangle (xyz) and reflect it over the line y=x to create triangle x’y’z’. describe the transformation using words. draw a line segment from point x to the reflecting line, and then draw a line segment from point x’ to the reflecting line. what do you notice about the two line segments you drew? do you think you would see the same characteristics if you drew the line segment connecting y with the reflecting line and then y’ with the reflecting line? how do you know?