High School Math : Triangles

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for High School Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #54 : Triangles

Righttriangle

Triangle ABC is a right triangle. If the length of side A = 8 inches and B = 11 inches, find the length of the hypoteneuse (to the nearest tenth). 

Possible Answers:

184 inches

13.6 inches

185 inches

14.2 inches

13.7 inches

Correct answer:

13.6 inches

Explanation:

Using the Pythagrean Theorem, we know that .

This tells us:

Taking the square root of both sides, we find that  inches

Example Question #55 : Triangles

Righttriangle

Given:

A = 6 feet

B = 9 feet

What is the length of the hypoteneuse of the triangle (to the nearest tenth)?

Possible Answers:

10.6 feet

10.8 feet

10.5 feet

10.2 feet

10.1 feet

Correct answer:

10.8 feet

Explanation:

Using the Pythagrean Theorem, we know that .

This tells us:

Taking the square root of both sides, we find that 

Example Question #56 : Triangles

Righttriangle

Given:

A = 2 miles

B = 3 miles

What is the length of the hypoteneuse of triangle ABC, to the nearest tenth? 

Possible Answers:

3.2 miles

3.7 miles

3.5 miles

3.6 miles

3.4 miles

Correct answer:

3.6 miles

Explanation:

Using the Pythagrean Theorem, we know that .

This tells us:

Taking the square root of both sides, we find that 

Example Question #57 : Triangles

Given that two sides of a right triangle measure 2 feet and 3 feet, respectively, with a hypoteneuse of x, what is the perimeter of this right triangle (to the nearest tenth)?

Possible Answers:

8.6 feet

3.6 feet

18 feet

9.4 feet

6.4 feet

Correct answer:

8.6 feet

Explanation:

Using the Pythagrean Theorem, we know that .

This tells us:

Taking the square root of both sides, we find that 

To find the perimeter, we add the side lengths together, which gives us that the perimeter is: 

Example Question #71 : Plane Geometry

Img052

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Example Question #61 : Triangles

Kathy and Jill are travelling from their home to the same destination. Kathy travels due east and then after travelling 6 miles turns and travels 8 miles due north. Jill travels directly from her home to the destination. How miles does Jill travel? 

Possible Answers:

\dpi{100} \small 10\ miles

\dpi{100} \small 12\ miles

\dpi{100} \small 16\ miles

\dpi{100} \small 14\ miles

\dpi{100} \small 8\ miles

Correct answer:

\dpi{100} \small 10\ miles

Explanation:

Kathy's path traces the outline of a right triangle with legs of 6 and 8. By using the Pythagorean Theorem

  \dpi{100} \small 6^{2}+8^{2}=x^{2}

\dpi{100} \small 36+64=x^{2} 

\dpi{100} \small x=10 miles

Example Question #71 : Geometry

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Example Question #72 : Plane Geometry

In order to get to work, Jeff leaves home and drives 4 miles due north, then 3 miles due east, followed by 6 miles due north and, finally, 7 miles due east.  What is the straight line distance from Jeff’s work to his home?

 

 

Possible Answers:

10√2

6√2

11

2√5

15

Correct answer:

10√2

Explanation:

Jeff drives a total of 10 miles north and 10 miles east.  Using the Pythagorean theorem (a2+b2=c2), the direct route from Jeff’s home to his work can be calculated.  102+102=c2.  200=c2. √200=c. √100Ÿ√2=c. 10√2=c

Example Question #112 : Act Math

Jim leaves his home and walks 10 minutes due west and 5 minutes due south. If Jim could walk a straight line from his current position back to his house, how far, in minutes, is Jim from home?

 

Possible Answers:

√5

5√5

√10

6√6

Correct answer:

5√5

Explanation:

By using Pythagorean Theorem, we can solve for the distance “as the crow flies” from Jim to his home:

102 + 52 = x2

100 + 25 = x2

√125 = x, but we still need to factor the square root

√125 = √25*5, and since the √25 = 5, we can move that outside of the radical, so

5√5= x

 

 

Example Question #51 : Right Triangles

A square enclosure has a total area of 3,600 square feet. What is the length, in feet, of a diagonal across the field rounded to the nearest whole number?

Possible Answers:

100 

75 

95 

85 

60 

Correct answer:

85 

Explanation:

In order to find the length of the diagonal accross a square, we must first find the lengths of the individual sides.

 

The area of a square is found by multiply the lengths of 2 sides of a square by itself.

 

So, the square root of 3,600 comes out to 60 ft.

 

The diagonal of a square can be found by treating it like a right triangle, and so, we can use the pythagorean theorem for a right triangle.

 

602 + 602 = C2

 

the square root of 7,200 is 84.8, which can be rounded to 85

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