The

Pythagorean
Theorem
a
2
+ b
2
= c
2

Sofia Perozzi
Math 1
12/12/13

Word Problems
1) 2.5
2
+ b
2
= 12
2

137.75 = b
2
11.7 = b
The ladder reached 11.7 feet up the wall.
2) 45
2
+ 100
2
= c
2

12025 = c
2
109.7 = c
The length of the entire field diagonally,
including the end zones is 109.7 yards.
3) 90
2
+ 90
2
= c
2

16200 = c
2
127.3 = c
The catcher at home plate would have to
throw the ball 127.3 feet to catch
someone stealing second base.
4) 6
2
+ 9
2
= c
2

117 = c
2
10.8 = c
The helicopter is now 10.8 miles from its
starting point.
5) 10
2
+ 10
2
= c
2

200 = c
2
14.1 = c
Jodi is 14.1 miles away from her starting
point when she stops to rest.

Are you a Right
Triangle?
1) 12
2
+ 15
2
= 20
2

369 400
No



2) 18
2
+ 24
2
= 30
2

900 = 900
Yes

3) 20
2
+ 21
2
= 29
2

841 = 841
Yes



4) 2.1
2
+ 2.8
2
= 3.5
2

12.25 = 12.25
Yes








Pythagoras
28
21

c
c
7
5
13
13
c
c
17
17
28
2
+ 21
2
= c
2
1225 = c
2

35 = c


5
2
+ 7
2
= c
2

74 = c
2

8.6 = c
35 = c
13
2
+ 13
2
= c
2

338 = c
2
18.4 = c


17
2
+ 17
2
= c
2

578 = c
2
24 = c

48
8
72
8
b
45
8
38
8
a
60
25
15
8
b
78
8
a
48
2
+ b
2
= 60
2

1296 = c
2

36 = c
35 = c
a
2
+ 38
2
= 45
2

581 = c
2

24.1 = c
35 = c
15
2
+ b
2
= 25
2

400 = c
2

20 = c
35 = c
a
2
+ 72
2
= 78
2

900 = c
2

30 = c
35 = c
Pythagoras was born is
Samos, Greece in the year
of 570 B.C.E. He led both
religious and scientific
groups. He was well
educated, played the lyre,
and recited Homer. He
discovered a theorem in
geometry that states that
in a right-angled triangle,
the area of the square on
the hypotenuse is equal to
the sum of the areas of the
square of the other two
sides. The mathematical
equation for this theorem
is known as a
2
+ b
2
= c
2
.
He died in 495 B.C.E in
Metapontum, Italy.