ISEE Upper Level Quantitative : How to find the length of the side of a right triangle

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ISEE Upper Level Quantitative

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Example Questions

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

Right_triangle

Refer to the above right triangle. Which of the following is equal to \(\displaystyle x\) ?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 5\sqrt{6}\)

\(\displaystyle 8\)

\(\displaystyle 6\)

\(\displaystyle 3 \sqrt{10}\)

\(\displaystyle 6 \sqrt{ 5}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 6 \sqrt{ 5}\)

Explanation:

By the Pythagorean Theorem,

\(\displaystyle x^{2 } + 12 ^{2 } = 18 ^{2 }\)

\(\displaystyle x^{2 } + 144 = 324\)

\(\displaystyle x^{2 } + 144 -144 = 324-144\)

\(\displaystyle x^{2 } = 180\)

\(\displaystyle x = \sqrt{180} = \sqrt{36} \cdot \sqrt{5} = 6 \sqrt{5}\)

Example Question #15 : Right Triangles

Given \(\displaystyle \Delta ABC\) with right angle \(\displaystyle \angle B\)\(\displaystyle m \angle C = 45 ^{\circ }\)

Which is the greater quantity?

(a) \(\displaystyle AB\)

(b) \(\displaystyle BC\)

Possible Answers:

(a) is greater.

It is impossible to tell from the information given.

(b) is greater.

(a) and (b) are equal.

Correct answer:

(a) and (b) are equal.

Explanation:

\(\displaystyle m \angle B = 90^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle m \angle C = 45 ^{\circ }\)

The sum of the measures of the angles of a triangle is , so:

\(\displaystyle m \angle A + m \angle B + m \angle C = 180\)

\(\displaystyle m \angle A +90 + 45 = 180\)

\(\displaystyle m \angle A +135= 180\)

\(\displaystyle m \angle A +135-135= 180-135\)

\(\displaystyle m \angle A = 45^{\circ }\)

This is a \(\displaystyle 45^{\circ }-45^{\circ }-90^{\circ }\) triangle, so its legs \(\displaystyle \overline{AB}\) and \(\displaystyle \overline{BC}\) are congruent. The quantities are equal.

Example Question #42 : Geometry

Triangle

Give the length of one leg of an isosceles right triangle whose area is the same as the right triangle in the above diagram. 

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 12 \sqrt{ 5} \textrm{ in}\)

\(\displaystyle 9 \sqrt{10} \textrm{ in}\)

\(\displaystyle 15 \sqrt{6} \textrm{ in}\)

\(\displaystyle 3\sqrt{15} \textrm{ in}\)

\(\displaystyle 6 \sqrt{15} \textrm{ in}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 6 \sqrt{15} \textrm{ in}\)

Explanation:

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 

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{2} \times 30 \times 18 = 270\) square inches.

 

An isosceles right triangle has two legs of the same length, which we will call \(\displaystyle L\). The area of that triangle, which is the same as that of the one in the diagram, is therefore 

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{2} L ^{2} = 270\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{2} L ^{2}\cdot 2 = 270 \cdot 2\)

\(\displaystyle L ^{2} = 540\)

\(\displaystyle L = \sqrt{540}\)

\(\displaystyle L = \sqrt{36}\cdot \sqrt{15} = 6 \sqrt{15}\) inches.

 

Example Question #51 : Triangles

Right_triangle

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

Possible Answers:

(A) and (B) are equal

(A) is greater

It is impossible to determine which is greater from the information given

(B) is greater

Correct answer:

(A) and (B) are equal

Explanation:

By the Pythagorean Theorem, the shorter leg has length

\(\displaystyle \sqrt{26^{2}-24^{2}} = \sqrt{676-576} = \sqrt{100} = 10\) feet. 

The perimeter of the right triangle is therefore 

\(\displaystyle 10 + 24 + 26 = 60\) feet.

The octagon has perimeter 20% greater than this, or 

\(\displaystyle 60 + 0.20 \times 60 = 60 + 12 = 72\) feet.

A regular octagon has eight sides of equal length, so each side of this octagon has length

\(\displaystyle 72 \div 8 = 9\) feet, which is equal to 3 yards. This makes the quantities equal.

Example Question #2 : How To Find The Length Of The Side Of A Right Triangle

Right_triangle

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

 

Possible Answers:

(B) is greater

(A) is greater

It is impossible to determine which is greater from the information given

(A) and (B) are equal

Correct answer:

(B) is greater

Explanation:

By the Pythagorean Theorem, the shorter leg has length

\(\displaystyle \sqrt{26^{2}-24^{2}} = \sqrt{676-576} = \sqrt{100} = 10\) feet. 

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

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{2} \times 10 \times 24 = 120\) square feet.

The sidelength is the square root of this; \(\displaystyle 120 < 121\), so \(\displaystyle \sqrt{120} < \sqrt{121} = 11\). Therefore each sidelength of the square is just under 11 feet. 4 yards is 12 feet, so (B) is greater.

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

Right triangle 5

Figure NOT drawn to scale.

Refer to the above triangle. Which is the greater quantity?

(a) \(\displaystyle AC\)

(b) 108

Possible Answers:

It is impossible to determine which is greater from the information given

(a) is the greater quantity

(b) is the greater quantity

(a) and (b) are equal

Correct answer:

(b) is the greater quantity

Explanation:

We can compare these numbers by comparing their squares.

By the Pythagorean Theorem, 

\(\displaystyle (AC) ^{2}= (AB) ^{2}+ (BC)^{2} = 100 ^{2}+ 40 ^{2} = 10,000 + 1,600 = 11,600\)

Also,

\(\displaystyle 108^{2} = 11,664\)

\(\displaystyle 108^{2} >(AC) ^{2}\), so \(\displaystyle 108 > AC\).

Example Question #52 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Quantitative Reasoning

Consider a triangle, \(\displaystyle \bigtriangleup ABC\), in which \(\displaystyle AB = 33\)\(\displaystyle BC = 44\), and \(\displaystyle m \angle B = 100 ^{\circ}\). Which is the greater quantity?

(a) 55

(b) \(\displaystyle AC\)

Possible Answers:

(a) is the greater quantity

It is impossible to determine which is greater from the information given

(a) and (b) are equal

(b) is the greater quantity

Correct answer:

(b) is the greater quantity

Explanation:

Suppose \(\displaystyle AC = 55\).

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 \(\displaystyle (AB)^{2}+ ( BC )^{2}\) and \(\displaystyle (AC)^{2}\)

\(\displaystyle (AB)^{2}+ ( BC )^{2} = 33^{2} + 44 ^{2} = 1,089+ 1,936= 3,025\)

\(\displaystyle (AC)^{2} = 55^{2} = 3,025\)

Therefore, if \(\displaystyle AC = 55\)

\(\displaystyle (AB)^{2}+ ( BC )^{2} =(AC)^{2}\), so \(\displaystyle \bigtriangleup ABC\) is right, with the right angle opposite longest side \(\displaystyle \overline{AC}\). Thus, \(\displaystyle \angle B\) is right and has degree measure 90.

However, \(\displaystyle \angle B\) has degree measure greater than 90, so, as a consequence of the Converse of the Pythagorean Theorem and the SAS Inequality Theorem, it holds that \(\displaystyle AC > 55\).

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