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Practice 3

The Pythagorean theorem states that for any right triangle, the sum of the squares of the two legs is equal to the square of the hypotenuse. Specifically, if a and b are the lengths of the legs and c is the length of the hypotenuse, then a2 + b2 = c2. The theorem can be used to calculate the length of any unknown side of a right triangle given the other two sides. Some examples demonstrate applying the Pythagorean theorem to solve for missing side lengths of right triangles.

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13 views

Practice 3

The Pythagorean theorem states that for any right triangle, the sum of the squares of the two legs is equal to the square of the hypotenuse. Specifically, if a and b are the lengths of the legs and c is the length of the hypotenuse, then a2 + b2 = c2. The theorem can be used to calculate the length of any unknown side of a right triangle given the other two sides. Some examples demonstrate applying the Pythagorean theorem to solve for missing side lengths of right triangles.

Uploaded by

manjirosanoxd
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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PYTHAGOREAN THEOREM #5

Any triangle that has a right angle is called a RIGHT


c TRIANGLE. The two sides that form the right angle, a
a and b, are called LEGS, and the side opposite (that is,
across the triangle from) the right angle, c, is called the
b HYPOTENUSE.
For any right triangle, the sum of the squares of the legs of the triangle is equal
to the square of the hypotenuse, that is, a2 + b2 = c2. This relationship is known
as the PYTHAGOREAN THEOREM. In words, the theorem states that:

(leg)2 + (leg)2 = (hypotenuse)2.

Example
Draw a diagram, then use the Pythagorean Theorem to write an equation to solve each problem.

a) Solve for the missing side. b) Find x to the nearest tenth:

c 2 + 132 = 17 2 (5x)2 + x 2 = 20 2
c
13 c 2 + 169 = 289 25x 2 + x 2 = 400
20
17 c 2 = 120 5x 26x 2 = 400
c = 120 x 2 ! 15.4
x
c = 2 30 x ! 15.4
c ! 10.95 x ! 3.9

c) One end of a ten foot ladder is four feet d) Could 3, 6 and 8 represent the lengths
from the base of a wall. How high on of the sides of a right triangle?
the wall does the top of the ladder touch? Explain.
?

32 + 6 2 = 8 2
10
x ?

9 + 36 = 64
4 4 45 ! 64
x2 + 42 = 102
x2 + 16 = 100 Since the Pythagorean Theorem
x2 = 84 relationship is not true for these
x ≈ 9.2 lengths, they cannot be the side
The ladder touches the wall about 9.2 lengths of a right triangle.
feet above the ground.
12 Extra Practice

© 2007 CPM Educational Program. All rights reserved.


Use the Pythagorean Theorem to find the value of x. Round answers to the nearest tenth.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

x x
96 x 83
37 x 20
42
72 65
22 x 16 46

6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
15
30
x 105
x x x
16 22 32 125 x
16
38 75

Solve the following problems.


11. A 12 foot ladder is six feet from a wall. How high on the wall does the ladder touch?
12. A 15 foot ladder is five feet from a wall. How high on the wall does the ladder touch?
13. A 9 foot ladder is three feet from a wall. How high on the wall does the ladder touch?
14. A 12 foot ladder is three and a half feet from a wall. How high on the wall does the ladder touch?
15. A 6 foot ladder is one and a half feet from a wall. How high on the wall does the ladder touch?
16. Could 2, 3, and 6 represent the lengths of sides of a right angle triangle? Justify your answer.
17. Could 8, 12, and 13 represent the lengths of sides of a right triangle? Justify your answer.
18. Could 5, 12, and 13 represent the lengths of sides of a right triangle? Justify your answer.
19. Could 9, 12, and 15 represent the lengths of sides of a right triangle? Justify your answer.
20. Could 10, 15, and 20 represent the lengths of sides of a right triangle? Justify your answer.

Answers
1. 29.7 2. 93.9 3. 44.9 4. 69.1 5. 31.0
6. 15.1 7. 35.3 8. 34.5 9. 73.5 10. 121.3
11. 10.4 ft 12. 14.1 ft 13. 8.5 ft 14. 11.5 ft 15. 5.8 ft
16. no 17. no 18. yes 19. yes 20. no

GEOMETRY Connections 13

© 2007 CPM Educational Program. All rights reserved.

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