Objective

Thestudentwillbeableto:
use the Pythagorean Theorem

Designed by Skip Tyler, Varina High School

Whatisarighttriangle?
hypotenuse

leg
right angle

leg

Itisatrianglewhichhasananglethatis90
degrees.
Thetwosidesthatmakeuptherightangle
arecalledlegs.
Thesideoppositetherightangleisthe
hypotenuse.

ThePythagoreanTheorem
Inarighttriangle,ifaandbarethe
measuresofthelegsandcisthe
hypotenuse,then
a2+b2=c2.
Note:Thehypotenuse,c,isalways
thelongestside.

Findthelengthofthe
hypotenuseif
1.a=12andb=16.
2
2
2

12 +16 =c
144+256=c2
400=c2
Takethesquarerootofbothsides.
2
400 c
20=c

Findthelengthofthehypotenuseif
2.a=5andb=7.
52+72=c2
25+49=c2
74=c2
Takethesquarerootofbothsides.
8.60=c

74 c

Findthelengthofthehypotenuse
givena=6andb=12
1.
2.
3.
4.

180
324
13.42
18

Findthelengthoftheleg,tothe
nearesthundredth,if
3.a=4andc=10.
42+b2=102
16+b2=100
Solveforb.
1616+b2=10016
b2=84
2
b 84
b=9.17

Findthelengthoftheleg,tothe
nearesthundredth,if
4.c=10andb=7.
a2+72=102
a2+49=100
Solvefora.
a2=10049
a2=51
2
a 51
a=7.14

Findthelengthofthemissingside
givena=4andc=5
1.
2.
3.
4.

1
3
6.4
9

5.Themeasuresofthreesidesofatriangle
aregivenbelow.Determinewhethereach
triangleisarighttriangle.
73
,3,and8
Whichsideisthebiggest?
Thesquarerootof73(=8.5)!Thismustbe
thehypotenuse(c).
PlugyourinformationintothePythagorean
Theorem.Itdoesntmatterwhichnumber
isaorb.

73
Sides:,3,and8
32+82=()
73 2
9+64=73
73=73
Sincethisistrue,thetriangleisa
righttriangle!!Ifitwasnottrue,it
wouldnotbearighttriangle.

Determinewhetherthetriangleisaright
trianglegiventhesides6,9,and
45
1. Yes
2. No
3. Purple