Basic Geometry : Triangles

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Basic Geometry

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Perimeter Of A 45/45/90 Right Isosceles Triangle

An isosceles right triangle has a hypotenuse of 6 centimeters.  What is its perimeter?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

An isoceles right triangle has two congruent legs.  We use the Pythagorean Theorem, which states that a2 + b2 = c2, where a and b are the legs and c is the hypotenuse.

Let = leg length.

Because this is an isosceles triangle, the two legs have the same length. Plug this and the hypotenuse length into the Pythagorean Theorem and solve for x:

 

 

Thus the perimeter is .

Plug in our value for x:

Example Question #2 : How To Find The Perimeter Of A 45/45/90 Right Isosceles Triangle

What is the formula for the perimeter of a right triangle of sides

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The perimeter of a triangle is the distance around the outside, and can be found by adding the side lengths together: .

Example Question #2 : How To Find The Perimeter Of A 45/45/90 Right Isosceles Triangle

Find the perimeter of the triangle below.

28

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The first point of business is to realize is that we have a 45-45-90 triangle. That means the two legs of our triangle are congruent and are thus each 8. We can find our hypotenuse by multiplying by . Thus our hypotenuse is .

Our perimeter is simply the sum of of the lengths of our three sides.

Example Question #3 : How To Find The Perimeter Of A 45/45/90 Right Isosceles Triangle

 is a  triangle.

Triangles_5

What is the perimeter of ?

Possible Answers:

There is not enough information given to answer this question.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

We are given that  is a  triangle and that . Calculate the length of sides  and  using either the Pythagorean Theorem or the  ratio of the sides of a  triangle.

Using the Pythagorean Theorem:

Because  is a  triangle, we know  so we can represent both legs of the triangle with one variable.  Let's use .

Using the ratio of the sides:

Divide the length of the hypotenuse by .

Either way, the length of 

Calculate the perimeter by adding the length of all the sides.

This can be factored to .

Example Question #4 : How To Find The Perimeter Of A 45/45/90 Right Isosceles Triangle

The following image is not to scale.

Find the perimeter of the  triangle. Round to the nearest foot.

Finding_the_perimeter

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Finding_the_perimeter

The problem tells us the triangle is 45/45/90. The goal is to solve for the perimeter, which can be determined through , where the s's are in reference to the three sides and P stands for perimeter. 

In the figure, two of the three sides are given. In order to calculate the hypotenuse, two methods are possible:

1. using the Pythagorean Theorem 

2. using Find_the_leg_length_resolution

 

After calculations, the hypotenuse is 

Perimeter can be calculated out to be:

Example Question #5 : How To Find The Perimeter Of A 45/45/90 Right Isosceles Triangle

Find the perimeter of a  triangle with a leg length of  cm. 

Possible Answers:

 

Correct answer:

 

Explanation:

In order to solve for the perimter (the sum of all sides), all side lengths must be known. 

Because it's been stated the triangle is 45/45/90, this means that it is also isosceles. Therefore, given that one of the leg lengths is 5 cm, this means that the other leg must also be 5 cm. This leaves the hypotenuse as unknown; let's label this as x. 

Find_the_perimeter

The third side can be easily determined through the Pythagorean Theorem because it's a right triangle. 

, c=x

But because the hypotenuse measures distance, x cannot be a negative number. Therefore, x=5√2.

Now, perimeter can be solved for.

 

Example Question #2 : How To Find The Perimeter Of A 45/45/90 Right Isosceles Triangle

Find the perimeter of a right triangle whose perpendicular side lengths are  and .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To find the perimeter we must find the hypotenuse and then sum all side lengths to find the perimeter. Remember the hypostenuse of an isoceles right triangle is the side length multiplied by the square root of .

Thus,

Example Question #3 : How To Find The Perimeter Of A 45/45/90 Right Isosceles Triangle

What is the perimeter of a right isosceles triangle that has leg lengths of ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

13

Recall how to find the perimeter of a triangle:

Now, because this is a right isosceles triangle, we know the following:

From the information given in the question, we already have two of the sides needed. Now, recall the Pythagorean Theorem to find the third side of the triangle, the hypotenuse.

The Pythagorean Theorem can then be simplifed to the following equation:

Now, solve for  since the question asks for the length of the hypotenuse.

Now, plug in the given value for  to find the length of the hypotenuse.

Now that we have all three sides of the triangle, we can find the perimeter. Use a calculator and round to  decimal places.

Example Question #3 : How To Find The Perimeter Of A 45/45/90 Right Isosceles Triangle

What is the perimeter of a right isosceles triangle with leg lengths of ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

13

Recall how to find the perimeter of a triangle:

Now, because this is a right isosceles triangle, we know the following:

From the information given in the question, we already have two of the sides needed. Now, recall the Pythagorean Theorem to find the third side of the triangle, the hypotenuse.

The Pythagorean Theorem can then be simplifed to the following equation:

Now, solve for  since the question asks for the length of the hypotenuse.

Now, plug in the given value for  to find the length of the hypotenuse.

Now that we have all three sides of the triangle, we can find the perimeter. Use a calculator and round to  decimal places.

Example Question #3 : How To Find The Perimeter Of A 45/45/90 Right Isosceles Triangle

What is the perimeter of a right isosceles triangle with leg lengths of ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

13

Recall how to find the perimeter of a triangle:

Now, because this is a right isosceles triangle, we know the following:

From the information given in the question, we already have two of the sides needed. Now, recall the Pythagorean Theorem to find the third side of the triangle, the hypotenuse.

The Pythagorean Theorem can then be simplifed to the following equation:

Now, solve for  since the question asks for the length of the hypotenuse.

Now, plug in the given value for  to find the length of the hypotenuse.

Now that we have all three sides of the triangle, we can find the perimeter. Use a calculator and round to  decimal places.

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