"'Cut through the grass. Sidewalks are for…

Many people learn about the Pythagorean Theorem in school, and then point out that they never use it in their lives. Some people think about the Pythagorean theorem every time they take a shortcut by walking across grass (such as on a college campus)

“‘Cut through the grass. Sidewalks are for losers.’ —Pythagoras” was posted on X/Twitter by Trammell on Deceber 13, 2011. “Every time I cut through the grass instead of walking the full length on the sidewalk I think of the Pythagorean theorem” was posted on X/Twitter by Emily Duncan on October 22, 2014. “i feel like pythagoras walking across campus” was posted on X/Twitter by robert pattinson on January 25, 2023.

“Everytime I gotta walk across grass as a shortcut I’m like yeah this is what Pythagoras theorem is all abt” was posted on X/Twitter by grovy on November 10, 2023, and this received over 87,000 likes.

Wikipedia: Pythagorean theorem
In mathematics, the Pythagorean theorem or Pythagoras’s theorem is a fundamental relation in Euclidean geometry between the three sides of a right triangle. It states that the area of the square whose side is the hypotenuse (the side opposite the right angle) is equal to the sum of the areas of the squares on the other two sides.

X/Twitter
Trammell
@trammell
“Cut through the grass. Sidewalks are for losers.” —Pythagoras
1:47 AM · Dec 13, 2011

X/Twitter
Emily Duncan
@em_dunc
Every time I cut through the grass instead of walking the full length on the sidewalk I think of the Pythagorean theorem
12:20 PM · Oct 22, 2014

X/Twitter
Daryl
@_radarjinx_
society: KEEP OFF THE GRASS
friends and i: pythagorean theorem!!!!
4:12 AM · Aug 11, 2015

X/Twitter
Fibonacci Freak
@native_german
You use Pythagorean theorem everytime you cut through the grass instead of going all the way around. Whenever you pick the shortest route on gps, that’s what you’re doing. Amongst other things.
7:03 PM · May 4, 2019

X/Twitter
ℂ𝕒𝕣𝕠𝕝 ℂ𝕣𝕚𝕡𝕡𝕤 💙
@CarolCripps_
I use this example whenever people say they don’t use the shit they were taught in maths. By walking across the grass instead of around it you have used a concept of Pythagoras’ theory. (Obviously it’s likely you didn’t think about it at all but I do 😅🤓)
(A comic illustration is shown.—ed.)
5:27 PM · Jul 14, 2020

X/Twitter
☠️
@iammangona
Me and my friend used it. There was this triangular area. I told her to walk over the grass cause it would be quicker, but she said its like Pythagoras. And she goes its equals to walking around the two sides. We tried it out, and reached the building together. We were fascinated
Quote
mr. b.
@p_blade_
Nov 11, 2021
Wow. Another day as an adult without using the Pythagorean Theorem.
4:47 AM · Nov 12, 2021

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robert pattinson (he/him)
@rielbrxwn
i feel like pythagoras walking across campus
5:50 PM · Jan 25, 2023

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grovy
@grovymango
Everytime I gotta walk across grass as a shortcut I’m like yeah this is what Pythagoras theorem is all abt
7:59 PM · Nov 30, 2023

X/Twitter
nycethancheese
@nycethancheese
everytime I gotta walk across grass as a shortcut I’m like yeah this is what Pythagoras theorem is all about
8:35 AM · Dec 5, 2023

X/Twitter
sbye
@sbye__
everytime i walk across grass as a shortcut i think to myself, “yeah, this that shit Pythagoras was on”
5:02 PM · Jun 7, 2024

X/Twitter
normal bewy
@dawnpistol
taking a shortcut through the grass like shoutout pythagoras
11:47 AM · Dec 11, 2024

Bluesky
Schrödinger’s bat
@euderma44.bsky.social
[Text: Students: “Ill never use the Pythagorean Theorem in real life.” But the picture shows a person walking on an angled path (shortcut) that has been worn into the grass by people who cut across rather than following the sidewalk and making a 90 degree turn.
ALT]
12:43 AM · Feb 9, 2025

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Allan LeBeau
@AllanSLebeau
Pythagoras misses the “Keep of the Grass” sign! 😂
9:24 AM · Mar 10, 2026

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Niall Quinn
@OtherNiallQuinn
“We never have to use the Pythagorean theorem in adult life”- tell that to the sense of satisfaction I feel when I walk across some grass as a shortcut and the inside of my head sounds like “a squared, plus b squared, equals sod that footpath”
10:41 AM · May 17, 2026

X/Twitter
remx
@biigrem
Everytime I got to walk across grass as a shortcut I’m like yeah this is what Pythagoras theorem is all about..
6:00 AM · Jun 16, 2026