Ms.

Summervilles 8th Grade Math Class Pythagorean Theorem Fun

Name: Date:

WEBERCISE ACTIVITY: The Pythagorean Theorem

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Directions: For each activity, follow the link and instructions to answer each question. This
exercise will deepen your knowledge about the Pythagorean Theorem through evaluation,
application, analysis and creation based problem-solving activities.

TOPIC 1: Real World Application Problems Involving 2D Situations

Activity 1: Apply the Pythagorean Theorem to advanced real world problems (House and
ladders problem)
First visit PBS website at: https://goo.gl/HRXgWp and then follow the directions below.

1. After examining the problem at this site, what are the givens in this problem (what
information do you know)?

2. What information are you missing (what is the missing information or unknown?)

3. Sketch a diagram to represent the problem and label the diagram with the known
and unknown values.

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 Ms. Summervilles 8th Grade Math Class Pythagorean Theorem Fun

4. Now, calculate the length of the ladder required to reach the window using the
Pythagorean Theorem. Show you work and box your answer.

(Answer )

Activity 2: Apply the Pythagorean Theorem to advanced real world problems (Baseball
field problem)
Visit PBSs site at: https://goo.gl/DKmDxU and then follow the directions below.

1. After reading through the problem description at the website, sketch a picture of the
baseball field below and label all bases, and the known distances.
Sketch:

2. Do you have enough information to solve for the distance between 1st and 3rd base?
Why or why not?

3. Now draw a line from 1st to 3rd base. Can you solve the problem now? Why?

4. Create an equation using the Pythagorean Theorem to solve for the distance between
1st and 3rd base. (Hint: you are solving for the longest side).

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 Ms. Summervilles 8th Grade Math Class Pythagorean Theorem Fun

5. What is the distance between 1st and 3rd base? Calculate this. Show your work and
write your answer in the box below.

(Answer )

TOPIC 2: Real World Application Problems Involving 3D Figures

Activity 1: First reacquaint yourself with how to apply the Pythagorean Theorem to
rectangular prisms in 3D.
Watch this YouTube video at https://goo.gl/xNe7K3, to answer the question below.
Briefly describe in 1-2 sentences how you would determine the diagonal length of a right
rectangular prism as shown in the videos sample problems.

Activity 2: Analyze a rectangular prism and its properties using the Theorem.

Go to GeoGebras website at https://goo.gl/Bk7DK4 to answer the questions below.

1. You will see a rectangular prism in the GeoGebra model. Click on the model to pan
around and view the front, base, and top of the prism. Then record the dimensions
that you see for the length, width, height and diagonal and label them in the figure
below.

Image from: http://ceemrr.com/Geometry2/LengthAreaVolume/LengthAreaVolume_print.html

2. Create an equation that could be used to solve for the diagonal of the base (Hint:
This would be line k in the figure above).

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 Ms. Summervilles 8th Grade Math Class Pythagorean Theorem Fun

3. How can you use this information to solve for the diagonal d? Describe your
solution process in 1-2 sentences.

4. Now, use your information from step 2 to solve for the distance (Hint: apply the
Theorem one more time but in a different way). Box your answer below.

(Answer )

TOPIC 3: Classify Triangles Using the Converse of the Theorem

Activity 2: Analyze triangles using the Converse of the Theorem.

Research this webpage to complete the rules below.

1. If 2 + 2 > 2 then you have a ________________ triangle

Part B: Now visit https://goo.gl/UVGVbC to complete the activity below.

Instructions: You will be given 3 measurements for each triangle. Test each triangle by
applying the Pythagorean Theorem. If both sides of the equation are equal, then you have a
right triangle! If not, you either have an acute or obtuse triangle. Use your rules above to
classify each triangle. Show your calculations for 3 triangles below. Click New Triple to
advance to the next triangle.

1.

2.

3.

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 Ms. Summervilles 8th Grade Math Class Pythagorean Theorem Fun

TOPIC 4: Assess the Distance Between Coordinates Using the Pythagorean Theorem

Activity 1: Review how the Pythagorean Theorem can be applied to the coordinate system.
First visit https://goo.gl/Wau5oC and watch the video.

After watching the video, discuss in 1-2 sentences how you would solve for the distance
between 2 points in the x-y plane.

Activity 2: Practice plotting and reading coordinates in the x-y plane

Drag all 4 points from the box on the left to any point you choose on the x-y plane. Write
down the x and y values for each coordinate below. You will have to read these off the
graph.

Point 1:
Point 2:
Point 3:
Point 4:
Activity 3: Solve for the distance between two coordinate points by applying the
Pythagorean Theorem
Visit the following Gizmos site: https://goo.gl/V6H8qL and follow the directions below.
1. Drag points A and B to the following coordinates:
A (0, 10) and B (10, 0). What are the coordinates of point C? After examining the
graph, write the coordinates below.

2. Now sketch the points on the coordinate system below. Make sure to label your x
and y axis!

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 Ms. Summervilles 8th Grade Math Class Pythagorean Theorem Fun

3. Now write an equation below to determine the distance between points A and B.
Solve this equation and box your answer below.

(Answer )

4. Check your work by clicking Show Distance Computation. Does your value
match the given value? If not, what do you think led to your answer being
different?

Congratulations on finishing this webercise!

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