How to find the length of the side of a right triangle - Math
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Refer to the above right triangle. Which of the following is equal to
?

Refer to the above right triangle. Which of the following is equal to ?
By the Pythagorean Theorem,





By the Pythagorean Theorem,
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Given
with right angle
, 
Which is the greater quantity?
(a) 
(b) 
Given with right angle
,
Which is the greater quantity?
(a)
(b)


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





This is a
triangle, so its legs
and
are congruent. The quantities are equal.
The sum of the measures of the angles of a triangle is , so:
This is a triangle, so its legs
and
are congruent. The quantities are equal.
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Give the length of one leg of an isosceles right triangle whose area is the same as the right triangle in the above diagram.

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
square inches.
An isosceles right triangle has two legs of the same length, which we will call
. The area of that triangle, which is the same as that of the one in the diagram, is therefore




inches.
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
square inches.
An isosceles right triangle has two legs of the same length, which we will call . The area of that triangle, which is the same as that of the one in the diagram, is therefore
inches.
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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

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
By the Pythagorean Theorem, the shorter leg has length
feet.
The perimeter of the right triangle is therefore
feet.
The octagon has perimeter 20% greater than this, or
feet.
A regular octagon has eight sides of equal length, so each side of this octagon has length
feet, which is equal to 3 yards. This makes the quantities equal.
By the Pythagorean Theorem, the shorter leg has length
feet.
The perimeter of the right triangle is therefore
feet.
The octagon has perimeter 20% greater than this, or
feet.
A regular octagon has eight sides of equal length, so each side of this octagon has length
feet, which is equal to 3 yards. This makes the quantities equal.
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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

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
By the Pythagorean Theorem, the shorter leg has length
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
square feet.
The sidelength is the square root of this;
, so
. Therefore each sidelength of the square is just under 11 feet. 4 yards is 12 feet, so (B) is greater.
By the Pythagorean Theorem, the shorter leg has length
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
square feet.
The sidelength is the square root of this; , so
. Therefore each sidelength of the square is just under 11 feet. 4 yards is 12 feet, so (B) is greater.
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Consider a triangle,
, in which
,
, and
. Which is the greater quantity?
(a) 55
(b) 
Consider a triangle, , in which
,
, and
. Which is the greater quantity?
(a) 55
(b)
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
and 


Therefore, if 
, so
is right, with the right angle opposite longest side
. Thus,
is right and has degree measure 90.
However,
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
.
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 and
Therefore, if
, so
is right, with the right angle opposite longest side
. Thus,
is right and has degree measure 90.
However, 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
.
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Figure NOT drawn to scale.
Refer to the above triangle. Which is the greater quantity?
(a) 
(b) 108

Figure NOT drawn to scale.
Refer to the above triangle. Which is the greater quantity?
(a)
(b) 108
We can compare these numbers by comparing their squares.
By the Pythagorean Theorem,

Also,

, so
.
We can compare these numbers by comparing their squares.
By the Pythagorean Theorem,
Also,
, so
.
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Find the length of the missing side length.

Find the length of the missing side length.


Recall the Pythagorean Theorem for a right triangle:

Since the missing side corresponds to side
, rewrite the Pythagorean Theorem and solve for
.


Now, plug in values of
and
into a calculator to find the length of side
. Round to
decimal places.


Recall the Pythagorean Theorem for a right triangle:
Since the missing side corresponds to side , rewrite the Pythagorean Theorem and solve for
.
Now, plug in values of and
into a calculator to find the length of side
. Round to
decimal places.
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Find the length of the unknown side,
, of the right triangle below.

Find the length of the unknown side, , of the right triangle below.

We need to use the Pythagorean Theorem, which says that
.
Since we need to find the length of 'a', we can just solve for 'a'.


In our case, c = 12 and b = 9.
Thus,
.
We need to use the Pythagorean Theorem, which says that .
Since we need to find the length of 'a', we can just solve for 'a'.
In our case, c = 12 and b = 9.
Thus, .
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The hypotenuse of a right triangle is 26 in and one leg is 10 in. What is the sum of the two shortest sides?
The hypotenuse of a right triangle is 26 in and one leg is 10 in. What is the sum of the two shortest sides?
We use the Pythagorean Theorem so the problem to solve becomes
where
= unknown leg length
So
and 
The sum of the two legs becomes 
We use the Pythagorean Theorem so the problem to solve becomes where
= unknown leg length
So and
The sum of the two legs becomes
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Find the missing leg of the right triangle when one of the legs is
and the hypotenuse is
.
Find the missing leg of the right triangle when one of the legs is and the hypotenuse is
.
In order to find the missing side of a right triangle you must use one of two things:
1. Pythagorean Theorem
2. Trigonometry.
Since we only know what the side lengths are we must use the Pythagorean Theorem.

a=4, b=x, and c=5




So the missing side length is 3
In order to find the missing side of a right triangle you must use one of two things:
1. Pythagorean Theorem
2. Trigonometry.
Since we only know what the side lengths are we must use the Pythagorean Theorem.
a=4, b=x, and c=5
So the missing side length is 3
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Given that the hypotenuse of a right triangle is
and one side is
, find the other side length.
Given that the hypotenuse of a right triangle is and one side is
, find the other side length.
To find the length of the missing side, you can either use the pythagorean theorm or realize this is a case of a special right triangle with sides
.
Thus, the other side length is
.
To find the length of the missing side, you can either use the pythagorean theorm or realize this is a case of a special right triangle with sides .
Thus, the other side length is .
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Find the length of the missing side.

Find the length of the missing side.


Recall the Pythagorean Theorem for a right triangle:

Since the missing side corresponds to side
, rewrite the Pythagorean Theorem and solve for
.


Now, plug in values of
and
into a calculator to find the length of side
. Round to
decimal places.


Recall the Pythagorean Theorem for a right triangle:
Since the missing side corresponds to side , rewrite the Pythagorean Theorem and solve for
.
Now, plug in values of and
into a calculator to find the length of side
. Round to
decimal places.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Find the length of the missing side.

Find the length of the missing side.


Recall the Pythagorean Theorem for a right triangle:

Since the missing side corresponds to side
, rewrite the Pythagorean Theorem and solve for
.


Now, plug in values of
and
into a calculator to find the length of side
. Round to
decimal places.


Recall the Pythagorean Theorem for a right triangle:
Since the missing side corresponds to side , rewrite the Pythagorean Theorem and solve for
.
Now, plug in values of and
into a calculator to find the length of side
. Round to
decimal places.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Find the length of the missing side.

Find the length of the missing side.


Recall the Pythagorean Theorem for a right triangle:

Since the missing side corresponds to side
, rewrite the Pythagorean Theorem and solve for
.


Now, plug in values of
and
into a calculator to find the length of side
. Round to
decimal places.


Recall the Pythagorean Theorem for a right triangle:
Since the missing side corresponds to side , rewrite the Pythagorean Theorem and solve for
.
Now, plug in values of and
into a calculator to find the length of side
. Round to
decimal places.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Find the length of the missing side.

Find the length of the missing side.


Recall the Pythagorean Theorem for a right triangle:

Since the missing side corresponds to side
, rewrite the Pythagorean Theorem and solve for
.


Now, plug in values of
and
into a calculator to find the length of side
. Round to
decimal places.


Recall the Pythagorean Theorem for a right triangle:
Since the missing side corresponds to side , rewrite the Pythagorean Theorem and solve for
.
Now, plug in values of and
into a calculator to find the length of side
. Round to
decimal places.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Find the length of the missing side.

Find the length of the missing side.


Recall the Pythagorean Theorem for a right triangle:

Since the missing side corresponds to side
, rewrite the Pythagorean Theorem and solve for
.


Now, plug in values of
and
into a calculator to find the length of side
. Round to
decimal places.


Recall the Pythagorean Theorem for a right triangle:
Since the missing side corresponds to side , rewrite the Pythagorean Theorem and solve for
.
Now, plug in values of and
into a calculator to find the length of side
. Round to
decimal places.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Find the length of the missing side.

Find the length of the missing side.


Recall the Pythagorean Theorem for a right triangle:

Since the missing side corresponds to side
, rewrite the Pythagorean Theorem and solve for
.


Now, plug in values of
and
into a calculator to find the length of side
. Round to
decimal places.


Recall the Pythagorean Theorem for a right triangle:
Since the missing side corresponds to side , rewrite the Pythagorean Theorem and solve for
.
Now, plug in values of and
into a calculator to find the length of side
. Round to
decimal places.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
