Right Triangles

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SAT Math › Right Triangles

Questions 1 - 10
1

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?

2√5

11

10√2

15

6√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

2

A right triangle has legs of 15m and 20m. What is the length of the hypotenuse?

30m

45m

35m

40m

25m

Explanation

The Pythagorean theorem is a2 + b2 = c2, where a and b are legs of the right triangle, and c is the hypotenuse.

(15)2 + (20)2 = c2 so c2 = 625. Take the square root to get c = 25m

3

Screen_shot_2013-03-18_at_10.21.29_pm

In the figure above, is a square and is three times the length of . What is the area of ?

Explanation

Assigning the length of ED the value of x, the value of AE will be 3_x_. That makes the entire side AD equal to 4_x_. Since the figure is a square, all four sides will be equal to 4_x_. Also, since the figure is a square, then angle A of triangle ABE is a right angle. That gives triangle ABE sides of 3_x_, 4_x_ and 10. Using the Pythagorean theorem:

(3_x_)2 + (4_x_)2 = 102

9_x_2 + 16_x_2 = 100

25_x_2 = 100

_x_2 = 4

x = 2

With x = 2, each side of the square is 4_x_, or 8. The area of a square is length times width. In this case, that's 8 * 8, which is 64.

4

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?

2√5

11

10√2

15

6√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

5

Screen_shot_2013-03-18_at_10.21.29_pm

In the figure above, is a square and is three times the length of . What is the area of ?

Explanation

Assigning the length of ED the value of x, the value of AE will be 3_x_. That makes the entire side AD equal to 4_x_. Since the figure is a square, all four sides will be equal to 4_x_. Also, since the figure is a square, then angle A of triangle ABE is a right angle. That gives triangle ABE sides of 3_x_, 4_x_ and 10. Using the Pythagorean theorem:

(3_x_)2 + (4_x_)2 = 102

9_x_2 + 16_x_2 = 100

25_x_2 = 100

_x_2 = 4

x = 2

With x = 2, each side of the square is 4_x_, or 8. The area of a square is length times width. In this case, that's 8 * 8, which is 64.

6

Solve each problem and decide which is the best of the choices given.

If , what is ?

Explanation

This is a triangle. We can find the value of the other leg by using the Pythagorean Theorem.

Remembering that

.

Thus,

.

If , you know the adjacent side is .

Thus, making

because tangent is opposite/adjacent.

7

Two sides of a given triangle are both . If one angle of the triangle is a right angle, then what is the measure of the hypotenuse?

Explanation

If we know two sides are equal to and we know that one of the angles is a right angle, then that means that this must be a Special Right Triangle where the interior angles are .

With this special triangle, we also know that the measure of the hypotenuse is equal to the measure of one side of the triangle times the square root of that measure.

Since one leg of the triangle is . then the hypotenuse is equal to .

We could also solve this using the Pythagorean Theorem, like so:

8

What is the hypotenuse of a right triangle with side lengths and ?

Explanation

The Pythagorean Theorem states that . This question gives us the values of and , and asks us to solve for .

Take and and plug them into the equation as and :

Now we can start solving for :

The length of the hypotenuse is .

9

A right triangle has legs of 15m and 20m. What is the length of the hypotenuse?

30m

45m

35m

40m

25m

Explanation

The Pythagorean theorem is a2 + b2 = c2, where a and b are legs of the right triangle, and c is the hypotenuse.

(15)2 + (20)2 = c2 so c2 = 625. Take the square root to get c = 25m

10

Solve each problem and decide which is the best of the choices given.

If , what is ?

Explanation

This is a triangle. We can find the value of the other leg by using the Pythagorean Theorem.

Remembering that

.

Thus,

.

If , you know the adjacent side is .

Thus, making

because tangent is opposite/adjacent.

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