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ACT Math : Right Triangles

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Example Questions

Example Question #52 : How To Find The Length Of The Hypotenuse Of A Right Triangle : Pythagorean Theorem

Each of the following answer choices lists the side lengths of a different triangle. Which of these triangles does not have a right angle?

Possible Answers:

6,7,12

5, 12, 13

$2, 2, 2\sqrt{2}$

9, 12, 15

Correct answer:

6,7,12

Explanation:

6, 7, 12 cannot be the side lengths of a right triangle. 6^2+ 7^2 does not equal 12^2 . Also, special right triangle 3-4-5, 5-12-13, and 45-45-90 rules can eliminate all the other choices.

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Example Question #1 : How To Find The Length Of The Side Of A Right Triangle

Given a right triangle with a leg length of 6 and a hypotenuse length of 10, find the length of the other leg, x.

Act_math_106

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Using Pythagorean Theorem, we can solve for the length of leg x:

x² + 6² = 10²

Now we solve for x:

x² + 36 = 100

x² = 100 – 36

x² = 64

x = 8

Also note that this is proportionally a 3/4/5 right triangle, which is very common. Always look out for a side-to-hypoteneuse ratio of 3/5 or 4/5, or a side-to-side ratio of 3/4, in any right triangle, so that you may solve such triangles rapidly.

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Example Question #1 : How To Find The Length Of The Side Of A Right Triangle

In a right triangle a hypotenuse has a length of 8 and leg has a length of 7. What is the length of the third side to the nearest tenth?

Possible Answers:

1.0

3.6

3.9

2.4

Correct answer: 3.9

Explanation:

Using the pythagorean theorem, 8²=7²+x². Solving for x yields the square root of 15, which is 3.9

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Example Question #1 : How To Find The Length Of The Side Of A Right Triangle

Given a right triangle with a leg length of 2 and a hypotenuse length of √8, find the length of the other leg, x.

Vt_triangle_x-2-sqrt8

Possible Answers:

√8

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Using Pythagorean Theorem, we can solve for the length of leg x:

x² + 2² = (√8)²= 8

Now we solve for x:

x² + 4 = 8

x² = 8 – 4

x² = 4

x = 2

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Example Question #1 : How To Find The Length Of The Side Of A Right Triangle

The legs of a right triangle are $8\ cm$ and $11\ cm$ . Rounded to the nearest whole number, what is the length of the hypotenuse?

Possible Answers:

$15\ cm$

$10\ cm$

$14\ cm$

$9\ cm$

$2\ cm$

Correct answer:

$14\ cm$

Explanation:

Use the Pythagorean Theorem. The sum of both legs squared equals the hypotenuse squared.

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Example Question #21 : How To Find The Length Of The Side Of A Right Triangle

Points $\dpi{100} \small A$ , $\dpi{100} \small B$ , and $\dpi{100} \small C$ are collinear (they lie along the same line). $\angle ACD = 90^{\circ}$ , $\angle CAD=30^{\circ}$ , $\angle CBD=60^{\circ}$ , $\overline{AD}=4$

Find the length of segment $\overline{BD}$ .

Possible Answers:

$\frac{2\sqrt{3}}{3}$

$2\sqrt{3}$

$2$

$\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}$

$\frac{4\sqrt{3}}{3}$

Correct answer:

$\frac{4\sqrt{3}}{3}$

Explanation:

The length of segment $\overline{BD}$ is $\frac{4\sqrt{3}}{3}$

Note that triangles $\dpi{100} \small ACD$ and $\dpi{100} \small BCD$ are both special, 30-60-90 right triangles. Looking specifically at triangle $\dpi{100} \small ACD$ , because we know that segment $\overline{AD}$ has a length of 4, we can determine that the length of segment $\overline{CD}$ is 2 using what we know about special right triangles. Then, looking at triangle $\dpi{100} \small BCD$ now, we can use the same rules to determine that segment $\overline{BD}$ has a length of $\frac{4}{\sqrt{3}}$

which simplifies to $\frac{4\sqrt{3}}{3}$ .

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Example Question #3 : How To Find The Length Of The Side Of A Right Triangle

A handicap ramp is $32\textup{ feet}$ long, and a person traveling the length of the ramp goes up $4\textup{ feet}$ vertically. What horizontal distance does the ramp cover?

Possible Answers:

$13\sqrt4\textup{ feet}$

$12\sqrt7\textup{ feet}$

$13\sqrt9\textup{ feet}$

$27\textup{ feet}$

$5\sqrt13\textup{ feet}$

Correct answer:

$12\sqrt7\textup{ feet}$

Explanation:

In this case, we are already given the length of the hypotenuse of the right triangle, but the Pythagorean formula still helps us. Plug and play, remembering that must always be the hypotenuse:

a^2 + b^2 = c^2 State the theorem.

Substitute your variables.

a^2 = 1008 Simplify.

$a = \sqrt{1008} = \sqrt{144\cdot 7} = 12\sqrt7$

Thus, the ramp covers $12\sqrt7\textup{ feet}$ of horizontal distance.

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Example Question #1 : How To Find If Right Triangles Are Similar

You have two right triangles that are similar. The base of the first is 6 and the height is 9. If the base of the second triangle is 20, what is the height of the second triangle?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Similar triangles are proportional.

Base₁ / Height₁ = Base₂ / Height₂

6 / 9 = 20 / Height₂

Cross multiply and solve for Height₂

6 / 9 = 20 / Height₂

6 * Height₂= 20 * 9

Height₂= 30

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Example Question #1 : Right Triangles

A right triangle is defined by the points (1, 1), (1, 5), and (4, 1). The triangle's sides are enlarged by a factor of 3 to form a new triangle. What is the area of the new triangle?

Possible Answers:

None of the answers are correct

36 square units

81 square units

54 square units

108 square units

Correct answer:

54 square units

Explanation:

The points define a 3-4-5 right triangle. Its area is A = 1/2bh = ½(3)(4) = 6. The scale factor (SF) of the new triangle is 3. The area of the new triangle is given by A_new = (SF)² x (A_old) =

3² x 6 = 9 x 6 = 54 square units (since the units are not given in the original problem).

NOTE: For a volume problem: V_new = (SF)³ x (V_old).

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Example Question #86 : Right Triangles

On a flat street, a light pole 36 feet tall casts a shadow that is 9 feet long. At the same time of day, a nearby light pole casts a shadow that is 6 feet long. How many feet tall is the second light pole?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Start by drawing out the light poles and their shadows.

Untitled

In this case, we end up with two similar triangles. We know that these are similar triangles because the question tells us that these poles are on a flat surface, meaning angle B and angle E are both right angles. Then, because the question states that the shadow cast by both poles are at the same time of day, we know that angles C and F are equivalent. As a result, angles A and D must also be equivalent.

Since these are similar triangles, we can set up proportions for the corresponding sides.

$\frac{36}{x}=\frac{9}{6}$

Now, solve for by cross-multiplying.

9x=216

x=24

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ACT Math : Right Triangles

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ACT Math

All ACT Math Resources

Example Questions

Example Question #52 : How To Find The Length Of The Hypotenuse Of A Right Triangle : Pythagorean Theorem

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Length Of The Side Of A Right Triangle

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Length Of The Side Of A Right Triangle

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Length Of The Side Of A Right Triangle

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Length Of The Side Of A Right Triangle

Example Question #21 : How To Find The Length Of The Side Of A Right Triangle

Example Question #3 : How To Find The Length Of The Side Of A Right Triangle

Example Question #1 : How To Find If Right Triangles Are Similar

Example Question #1 : Right Triangles

Example Question #86 : Right Triangles

All ACT Math Resources

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