All High School Math Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #19 : How To Find The Length Of The Side Of A Right Triangle
Given a right triangle, solve for the missing leg if one leg is 12 and the hypotenuse is 13.
Since the traingle is a right traingle, we can use the Pythagorean Theorem to solve for the missing leg:
and the hypotenuse
Example Question #21 : How To Find The Length Of The Side Of A Right Triangle
Find the length of segment .
The length of segment is
Note that triangles and are both special, 30-60-90 right triangles. Looking specifically at triangle , because we know that segment has a length of 4, we can determine that the length of segment is 2 using what we know about special right triangles. Then, looking at triangle now, we can use the same rules to determine that segment has a length of
which simplifies to .
Example Question #1 : How To Find The Length Of The Hypotenuse Of A Right Triangle : Pythagorean Theorem
Example Question #1 : How To Find The Length Of The Hypotenuse Of A Right Triangle : Pythagorean Theorem
If angle , and , what is the value of ?
Once we see that , we know that we're working with a right triangle and that will be the hypotenuse.
At this point we can use the Pythaogrean theorem () or, in this case: .
Plug in our given values to solve:
Example Question #1 : How To Find The Length Of The Hypotenuse Of A Right Triangle : Pythagorean Theorem
If angle , and , what is the value of ?
Once we see that , we know we're working with a right triangle and that will be the hypotenuse.
At this point we can use the Pythaogrean theorem () or, in this case: .
Plug in our given values to solve:
Subtract from both sides:
Example Question #4 : How To Find The Length Of The Hypotenuse Of A Right Triangle : Pythagorean Theorem
A right triangle has legs of and . What is the hypotenuse?
To solve this problem, use the Pythagorean theorem: the sum of the square of the legs equals the square of the hyoptenuse or, mathematically, .
Plug in our given values.
is not a perfect square, but let's see if we can find a factor that is a perfect square.
IS a perfect square, so we can simplify!
This is going to be true of all isoceles right triangles: the pattern will always be .
Example Question #2 : How To Find The Length Of The Hypotenuse Of A Right Triangle : Pythagorean Theorem
A right triangle has legs of and . What is the hypotenuse?
To solve this problem, use the Pythagorean theorem: the sum of the square of the legs equals the square of the hyoptenuse or, mathematically, .
Plug in our given values.
is not a perfect square, but let's see if we can find a factor that is a perfect square.
IS a perfect square, so we can simplify!
Example Question #3 : How To Find The Length Of The Hypotenuse Of A Right Triangle : Pythagorean Theorem
Solve for :
Solve for using the Pythagorean Theorem:
Example Question #1 : How To Find The Length Of The Hypotenuse Of A Right Triangle : Pythagorean Theorem
If and , how long is side ?
Not enough information to solve
This problem is solved using the Pythagorean theorem . In this formula and are the legs of the right triangle while is the hypotenuse.
Using the labels of our triangle we have:
Example Question #1 : How To Find The Length Of The Hypotenuse Of A Right Triangle : Pythagorean Theorem
If one of the short sides of a 45-45-90 triangle equals 5, how long is the hypotenuse?
√15
π
√10
5
5√2
5√2
Using the Pythagorean theorem, x2 + y2 = h2. And since it is a 45-45-90 triangle the two short sides are equal. Therefore 52 + 52 = h2 . Multiplied out 25 + 25 = h2.
Therefore h2 = 50, so h = √50 = √2 * √25 or 5√2.