# Are there examples of real life applications of the Pythagorean triples?

I am reading about the basic properties of the Pythagorean triples, and according to the Wikipedia the only real life application of them is on cryptography, but it does not specify very much apart from providing that reference.

For instance, talking about something more simple, it is possible to simplify the calculation of the area of a right triangle if we know that the sides of the triangle are a Pythagorean triple which is the multiple of a primitive Pythagorean triple, but that does not seem really useful as a shortcut because it implies first knowing that indeed the triple is a multiple of another triple.

So my question is: Are there real life applications of the Pythagorean triples apart from cryptography?

• Teachers demonstrating arithmetically easy examples. – Trademark Jun 21 '15 at 5:51
• @Trademark true! that is an application! but the focus of the examples I am looking for on my question is slightly different :) Have a nice Sunday! – iadvd Jun 21 '15 at 6:00
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