Why was trigonometry more useful in measuring land than the Pythagorean theorem?

Question

Why was trigonometry more useful in measuring land than the Pythagorean theorem?

Answer 1

The accuracy of the land is better in trig because you do not have to deal with sqaure roots. And trig has set up con san and tan buttons on a calculator so I guess that sorta why :S

Answer 2

You have to have a right-angled triangle to use Pythagorean theorem, which limits it's uses. With trigonometry, you don't; it can be applied to any triangles.