Trigonometry Pythagoras J Dwen 2007 Page 1 of 6

J Dwen
2007
Trigonometry Pythagoras J Dwen 2007 Page 2 of 6

Pythagoras
Once upon a time there was this Greek geek called Pythagoras
He lived long ago before calculators were invented (yes, that long ago!)
He noticed that the tiles on his corridor floor that turned a slight corner made an interesting shape
a right angled triangle with each side extended into a square made up of a whole number of tiles
when he eliminated in his mind the extra tiles, he found if he added the number of tiles from the two
small side squares they added up to the number of tiles in the big side square
He took this thought to his living room and started drawing right-angled triangles and folding
squares off the sides
When he cut the parchment shapes up he found that he could always completely (and exactly) cover
up the big square with the other two so long as he cut one of them into pieces to fit the gaps.
because he couldn't check out every triangle he called his triangle law a theorem

Pythagoras' Theorem
In any right-angled triangle The square on
the hypotenuse (Always the long side
opposite the right angle) is the sum of the
squares on the other two sides
To work it out using a calculator
First check that it’s a right angled triangle
with the length of two sides shown and that
you need the length of the third side
1 square everything
2 If you want a long side add... If you
want a short side subtract
3 Square root to find the answer

Summarized
Pythagoras’
Theorem

( )2

- +
√
Your Teacher may give you out some grid sheets like those on the next page
If so you will be told what number of triangle to cut out
Once you have cut out your triangle cut 3 squares as long as the sides on your triangle from the rest of the sheet.
Once finished you should be able to arrange your cut outs like the triangle and squares above.
The triangles have been chosen so the long side is an exact number of squares long.
Put the biggest square on the bottom and the next biggest on top of that
Cut the smallest square up (along the lines) to cover up the big square exactly.
When finished you will have shown that, for your triangle, the square on the long side is equal to the squares on
the other two sides added together.
This is Pythagoras’ Theorem.
We will use this theorem and a calculator to work out the lengths of the sides of right angled triangles.
Trigonometry Pythagoras J Dwen 2007 Page 3 of 6

1 2

4 3

3
4
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Pythagoras’ Theorem Long Side Example

Summarized Problem
Pythagoras’
Theorem
Find the long side
2
( )
- + 11 m
X

√ 8m

1
Square everything
( )2
Square Everything X
112 = 121

82 = 64
2
- + Need the long side
So ADD

If you need the long 112 + 82

112 = 121 = 185
side Add X
If you need a short side
Subtract 82 = 64

3
√ Square Root to find
The Answer
112 + 82
Square Root to find the 2
X = 185
11 = 121
answer √185 = 13.6
82 = 64
Answer…X = 13.6m
Trigonometry Pythagoras J Dwen 2007 Page 5 of 6

Pythagoras’ Theorem Short Side Example

Summarized Problem
Pythagoras’
Theorem
Find the short side
2
( )
- + X
12 m

√ 7m

1
Square everything
( )2
Square Everything X 122 = 144

72 = 49
2
- + Need a short side
So SUBTRACT

If you need the long 122 - 72 122 = 144

X
side Add = 144 – 49
If you need a short side = 95
Subtract 72 = 49

3
√ 2
12 - 7 2
Square Root to find
The Answer

= 95
Square Root to find the 122 = 144
X
answer √95 = 9.7
72 = 49
Answer…X = 9.7 cm
Trigonometry Pythagoras J Dwen 2007 Page 6 of 6

Exercise 1
Find the length of the side without a length on it. Give the answers to 1dp.
Summarized
Remember to use Pythagoras Theorem Pythagoras’
Summaries Below Theorem

Pythagoras' Theorem
Always
( )2
+
1 Square everything

-
2 If you want a long side add... give the
If you want a short side subtract units
3 Square root to find the answer

√
Draw the diagram before you answer it.
1
4
2
20
7 8 3
10 3 17 9
12

5 6 7
11 34 13
6 7
17 11
20 8

9 10 11
12
27 19
17 25 8 18
14 16

14 13
20
17
6
11
4 15

13
14 15
16