In a right triangle, can $a+b=c?$

Solution 1:

Your question has nothing to do with right triangles. If $c=a+b$ in any triangle, then the vertex $C$ must lie on the segment $AB$, and this is called a "degenerate" triangle.

Solution 2:

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(Addendum: As noted as well by others, this should highlight that your question has little to do with right triangles, as this is in fact a property of triangles in general)