Applications: Pythagorean Theorem Notes
Key Concept: Identifying Parts of Triangle:
Legs: 2 sides forming right angle (a, b)
Hypotenuse: side opposite the right angle; longest side of triangle (c)
Example: Identifying Parts of Triangle
Identify the legs and hypotenuse of the following right triangles:
17 Legs: 8, 15 (make up right ∟)
8 Hypotenuse: 17 (largest # & opposite right ∟)
15
Provided below are lengths of a right triangle. Identify the legs and
hypotenuse.
6,10, 8 Hypotenuse: 10 (largest), Legs: 6 and 8
9, 12, 15 Hypotenuse: 15 (largest), Legs: 9 and 12
Practice: Identifying Parts of Triangle
Identify the legs and hypotenuse of the following right triangles:
5 40 12
3 30 5
4 50 13
Provided below are lengths of a right triangle. Identify the legs and
hypotenuse.
a. 12,13, 5 Hypotenuse:____ Legs: __ and ____
b. 9, 12, 15 Hypotenuse:____ Legs: __ and ____
c. 25, 7, 24 Hypotenuse:____ Legs: __ and ____
App: Pythagorean Theorem 1 Rev B
Applications: Pythagorean Theorem Notes
Key Concept: Pythagorean Theorem
Pythagorean theorem: a2 + b2 = c2 (for right angles)
Pythagorean Theorem is used to find the length of a side of a right
triangle when the lengths of the other 2 sides are known.
if a2 + b2 = c2 then = √c2 = c
or
if a2 = c2 - b2 then a = √a2 =
if 32 + 42 = 52 then = √52 = 5
or
if 3 = 52 - 42 then 3 = √32 =
2
Examples: Solve for Missing Side
Using the Pythagorean Theorem, solve for the missing side:
6 x Step 1: Identify legs & hypotenuse
Hypotenuse: c = x, Legs: a=6, b=8
8
Step 2: Plug in values in a2 + b2 = c2 and solve
62 + 82 = x2
36 + 64 = x2
100 = x2
10 = x
x 17 Step 1: Identify legs & hypotenuse
Hypotenuse: c = 17, Legs: a=x, b=15
15
Step 2: Plug in values in a2 = c2 - b2 and solve
x2 = 172 - 52
x2 = 289 -225
x2 = 64
x =8
App: Pythagorean Theorem 2 Rev B
Applications: Pythagorean Theorem Notes
Practice: Solve for Missing Side
Using the Pythagorean Theorem, solve for the missing side:
1. Solve for a 2. Solve for c 3. Solve for b
15 10
a 24 2 6
12 c
b
4. Solve for a 5. Solve for c 6. Solve for b
10 5
a 12 4 6
8 c
b
Key Concept: Determining if lengths are sides of right triangle
When given 3 sides, identify your hypotenuse and legs with the
hypotenuse being the largest number.
Plug in values into the Pythagorean Theorem: a2 + b2 = c2
If the equation is true, then you have a right triangle
If a2 + b2 > c2 then you have an acute triangle
If a2 + b2 < c2 then you have an obtuse triangle
Examples: Determining if lengths are sides of right triangle
Determine whether the given lengths are sides of a right triangle.
a. 3, 9, 6 b. 6,10, 8
hypotenuse: 9; legs: 3, 6 hypotenuse: 10; legs 6, 8
2 2 2
3 +6 =9 62 + 82 = 102
9 + 36 = 81 36 + 64 = 100
45 ≠ 81 100 = 100
No, obtuse triangle Yes
App: Pythagorean Theorem 3 Rev B
Applications: Pythagorean Theorem Notes
Practice: Determining if lengths are sides of right triangle
Determine whether the given lengths are sides of a right triangle.
a. 20, 21, 29 b. 16,30,34 c. 7, 24, 25
d. 24, 60, 66 e. 23,18,14 f. 9, 12, 15
Key Concept: Pythagorean Triples
There are many common sets of 3 whole numbers that satisfy the
Pythagorean Theorem. Memorize the following Pythagorean Triples. They
come in handy and help save you time.
3, 4, 5 5, 12, 13 7, 24, 25 8, 15, 17 9, 40, 41
NOTE: The largest number must be the hypotenuse in order for these to
work.
Key Concept: Special Right Triangles
App: Pythagorean Theorem 4 Rev B
