ISEE Upper Level Quantitative : How to find the length of the side of a right triangle
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Example Questions
Example Question #14 : Right Triangles
Refer to the above right triangle. Which of the following is equal to 
By the Pythagorean Theorem,
Example Question #15 : Right Triangles
Given 
Which is the greater quantity?
(a)
(b)
(a) is greater.
It is impossible to tell from the information given.
(b) is greater.
(a) and (b) are equal.
(a) and (b) are equal.
The sum of the measures of the angles of a triangle is , so:
This is a 
Example Question #41 : Plane Geometry
Give the length of one leg of an isosceles right triangle whose area is the same as the right triangle in the above diagram.
The area of a triangle is half the product of its height and its base; in a right triangle, the legs, being perpendicular, can serve as these quantites.
The triangle in the diagram has area
An isosceles right triangle has two legs of the same length, which we will call 
Example Question #51 : Triangles
The perimeter of a regular octagon is 20% greater than that of the above right triangle. Which is the greater quantity?
(A) The length of one side of the octagon
(B) 3 yards
(A) and (B) are equal
(A) is greater
It is impossible to determine which is greater from the information given
(B) is greater
(A) and (B) are equal
By the Pythagorean Theorem, the shorter leg has length
The perimeter of the right triangle is therefore
The octagon has perimeter 20% greater than this, or
A regular octagon has eight sides of equal length, so each side of this octagon has length
Example Question #18 : Right Triangles
The area of a square is equal to that of the above right triangle. Which is the greater quantity?
(A) The sidelength of the square
(B) 4 yards
(A) and (B) are equal
(B) is greater
It is impossible to determine which is greater from the information given
(A) is greater
(B) is greater
By the Pythagorean Theorem, the shorter leg has length
The area of a triangle is equal to half the product of its base and height; for a right triangle, the legs can serve as these. The area of the above right triangle is
The sidelength is the square root of this; 
Example Question #1 : How To Find The Length Of The Side Of A Right Triangle
Figure NOT drawn to scale.
Refer to the above triangle. Which is the greater quantity?
(a)
(b) 108
(b) is the greater quantity
(a) is the greater quantity
(a) and (b) are equal
It is impossible to determine which is greater from the information given
(b) is the greater quantity
We can compare these numbers by comparing their squares.
By the Pythagorean Theorem,
Also,
Example Question #2 : How To Find The Length Of The Side Of A Right Triangle
Consider a triangle, 
(a) 55
(b)
It is impossible to determine which is greater from the information given
(a) is the greater quantity
(a) and (b) are equal
(b) is the greater quantity
(b) is the greater quantity
Suppose 
By the Converse of the Pythagorean Theorem, a triangle is right if and only if the sum of the squares of the lengths of the smallest two sides is equal to the square of the longest side. Compare the quantities 
Therefore, if
However, 
All ISEE Upper Level Quantitative Resources
