All SAT Math Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #94 : Geometry
The above figure shows Square . is the midpoint of ; is the midpoint of . Construct .
. Which of the following expresses the length of in terms of ?
Since all four sides of a square are congruent,
Since is the midpoint of ,
Since is the midpoint of ,
,
and
is a right triangle, so, by the Pythagorean Theorem,
Substituting:
Apply the Product of Radicals and Quotient of Radicals Rules:
Example Question #51 : How To Find The Length Of The Hypotenuse Of A Right Triangle : Pythagorean Theorem
In a right triangle, the lengths of the two smallest sides are 5 and 12. Find the length of the hypotenuse.
In order to find the length of the hypotenuse, we need to use the pythagorean theorem, which states that
By substituting 5 for a and 12 for b, we get
or,
To solve for c we need to take the square root of 169, which is 13. Therefore, the hypotenuse is 13.
Example Question #52 : How To Find The Length Of The Hypotenuse Of A Right Triangle : Pythagorean Theorem
Susie walks north from her house to a park that is 30 meters away. Once she arrives at the park, she turns and walks west for 80 meters to a bench to feed some pigeons. She then walks north for another 30 meters to a concession stand. If Susie returns home in a straight line from the concession stand, how far will she walk from the concession stand to her house, in meters?
100
50
200
70
25
100
Susie walks 30 meters north, then 80 meters west, then 30 meters north again. Thus, she walks 60 meters north and 80 meters west. These two directions are 90 degrees away from one another.
At this point, construct a right triangle with one leg that measures 60 meters and a second leg that is 80 meters.
You can save time by using the 3:4:5 common triangle. 60 and 80 are and , respectively, making the hypotenuse equal to .
We can solve for the length of the missing hypotenuse by applying the Pythagorean theorem:
Substitute the following known values into the formula and solve for the missing hypotenuse: side .
Susie will walk 100 meters to reach her house.
Example Question #72 : Triangles
The lengths of the sides of a triangle are consecutive odd numbers and the triangle's perimeter is 57 centimeters. What is the length, in centimeters, of its longest side?
19
17
25
21
23
21
First, define the sides of the triangle. Because the side lengths are consecutive odd numbers, if we define the shortest side will be as , the next side will be defined as , and the longest side will be defined as . We can then find the perimeter of a triangle using the following formula:
Substitute in the known values and variables.
Subtract 6 from both sides of the equation.
Divide both sides of the equation by 3.
Solve.
This is not the answer; we need to find the length of the longest side, or .
Substitute in the calculated value for and solve.
The longest side of the triangle is 21 centimeters long.
Example Question #53 : How To Find The Length Of The Hypotenuse Of A Right Triangle : Pythagorean Theorem
Each of the following answer choices lists the side lengths of a different triangle. Which of these triangles does not have a right angle?
cannot be the side lengths of a right triangle. does not equal . Also, special right triangle and rules can eliminate all the other choices.
Example Question #7 : How To Find The Length Of The Side Of A Right Triangle
A right triangle has one side equal to 5 and its hypotenuse equal to 14. Its third side is equal to:
12
171
9
14.87
13.07
13.07
The Pythagorean Theorem gives us a2 + b2 = c2 for a right triangle, where c is the hypotenuse and a and b are the smaller sides. Here a is equal to 5 and c is equal to 14, so b2 = 142 – 52 = 171. Therefore b is equal to the square root of 171 or approximately 13.07.
Example Question #3 : How To Find The Length Of The Side Of A Right Triangle
Which of the following could NOT be the lengths of the sides of a right triangle?
14, 48, 50
12, 16, 20
5, 7, 10
5, 12, 13
8, 15, 17
5, 7, 10
We use the Pythagorean Theorem and we calculate that 25 + 49 is not equal to 100.
All of the other answer choices observe the theorem a2 + b2 = c2
Example Question #9 : How To Find The Length Of The Side Of A Right Triangle
Which set of sides could make a right triangle?
10, 12, 16
4, 6, 9
9, 12, 15
6, 7, 8
9, 12, 15
By virtue of the Pythagorean Theorem, in a right triangle the sum of the squares of the smaller two sides equals the square of the largest side. Only 9, 12, and 15 fit this rule.
Example Question #1 : How To Find The Length Of The Side Of A Right Triangle
A right triangle with a base of 12 and hypotenuse of 15 is shown below. Find x.
4
5.5
5
3.5
4.5
4
Using the Pythagorean Theorem, the height of the right triangle is found to be = √(〖15〗2 –〖12〗2) = 9, so x=9 – 5=4
Example Question #2 : How To Find The Length Of The Side Of A Right Triangle
A right triangle has sides of 36 and 39(hypotenuse). Find the length of the third side
42
15
33√2
12 √6
33
15
use the pythagorean theorem:
a2 + b2 = c2 ; a and b are sides, c is the hypotenuse
a2 + 1296 = 1521
a2 = 225
a = 15
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