Netright Triangle Theorems
Netright Triangle Theorems
Netright Triangle Theorems
Right triangles are geometric 몭gures that offer a variety of applications. It is widely used for
construction purposes, navigation, approximation of measurement of tall structures, and a lot
more. Furthermore, it allowed us to develop trigonometry, extensively used in other 몭elds such
as astronomy, physics, and engineering.
How can such a simple 몭gure become so powerful that it changes the course of our
planet? Learn more about this geometric plane 몭gure and techniques for solving right triangles
in this review.
Table of Contents
What Are Right Triangles?: A Review
Parts of a Right Triangle
Pythagorean Theorem
Pythagorean Triples
Converse of the Pythagorean Theorem
Special Right Triangles
1. Isosceles Right Triangles (45° – 45° – 90° Right Triangle)
Isosceles Right Triangle Theorem
2. 30° – 60° – 90° Right Triangle
30° – 60° – 90° Right Triangle Theorem
Solving Word Problems Involving Right Triangles
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Test Yourself!
1. Practice Questions [Free PDF Download]
2. Answer Key [Free PDF Download]
3. Math Mock Exam + Answer Key
Essentially, right triangles contain a right-angle (90° angle) while the two interior angles
are acute.
The small square that you can see between the legs of the right triangle indicates that the
angle formed by the legs is a 90-degree angle. Once you see this “tiny square” inside a triangle,
it gives you a hint that the triangle you are looking at is a right triangle.
In the 몭gure above, sides PQ and QR are the legs of the right triangle PQR, while side PR is the
hypotenuse. Take note that the hypotenuse of a right triangle is always opposite to the right
angle.
In a right triangle, the legs are perpendicular since they form a right angle. Hence, in the
given 몭gure above PQ ⊥ QR.
If the legs of the right triangle are congruent or equal in measurement, then that right triangle
is called an isosceles right triangle. Meanwhile, if all sides of the right triangle have different
measurements, it is a scalene right triangle.
Now that you know a right triangle’s legs and the hypotenuse, let us explore the theorem that
shows the relationship among these parts.
Pythagorean Theorem
“The sum of the squares of the lengths of the legs of a right triangle on a 몭at surface is equal to
the square of the length of its hypotenuse.”
The Pythagorean theorem states that if you square the lengths of both legs of the right
triangle and then add them, the result will be equivalent to the square of the length of the
hypotenuse.
To make the mathematical statement above easier to remember, we let a and b be the length
of the legs and c be the hypotenuse of the right triangle. The Pythagorean theorem states that:
a2 + b2 = c2
This theorem is one of the most popular theorems in mathematics. It’s attributed to the Greek
mathematician Pythagoras who proved this theorem hundreds of years ago. If you are
interested in how this theorem has been proven throughout the years, you may watch this
video from Ted-Ed.
Sample Problem 1: The right triangle below has legs measuring 4 cm and 3 cm. Determine
how long its hypotenuse (or the longest side) is.
Solution: The Pythagorean theorem states that a2 + b2 = c2 where a and b are the legs while
c is the hypotenuse.
We have a = 4 and b = 3. Using the Pythagorean theorem, let us solve for the hypotenuse c:
a2 + b2 = c2
16 + 9 = c2
25 = c2
√25 = √c² Take the square root of both sides of the equation
±5 = c
c = ±5
The values of c that we have obtained are 5 and -5. Recall that c represents the length of the
hypotenuse of the right triangle. Thus, we must reject -5 since having a negative length of a
right triangle is impossible. Thus, we will only take 5 as the value of c.
Sample Problem 2: Look at the map shown below. How long is the shortest path from Helen’s
house to the library?
Solution: The shortest path connecting Helen’s house and the library is the diagonal line
connecting these two places. So, we draw a diagonal line that connects them.
The length of the diagonal line that we draw is the distance of the shortest path from Helen’s
house to the library.
Notice that we have created a right triangle as we draw this diagonal line between Helen’s
house and the library. The legs are the road from Helen’s house to the Acacia tree and the road
from the Acacia tree to the library.
And what is the hypotenuse? None other than the diagonal line representing the shortest path
from Helen’s house to the library.
Since we have formed a right triangle, we can apply the Pythagorean theorem to 몭nd the
length of this diagonal line. We have already de몭ned the legs of this triangle in the previous
paragraph. The diagonal line will serve as the hypotenuse of this right triangle.
The legs have measurements of 30 m and 40 m. So, we have a = 30 and b = 40. We let c as the
length of the hypotenuse of the right triangle.
a2 + b2 = c2
2 2 2
(30)2 + (40)2 = c2
900 + 1600 = c2
2500 = c2
c2 = 2500
√c² = √2500
c = ±50
Thus, the hypotenuse of the right triangle we formed is 50. It means that the diagonal line we
draw measures 50 m. Therefore, we conclude that the shortest path from Helen’s house to the
library is 50 meters long (try computing the total distance of all possible paths from Helen’s
house to the library, and you will discover that the shortest distance is indeed the one
represented by the diagonal line).
Sample Problem 3: What is the measurement of the side AB in the right triangle below?
Solution: We have legs AC and BC that measure 2 and 3 units, respectively. Let us compute
the hypotenuse AB using the Pythagorean theorem.
2 2 2
a2 + b2 = c2 The a and b are the legs, and c is the hypotenuse
4 + 9 = c2
13 = c2
√c² = √13
c = ±√13
Solution: In the 몭gure above, Q represents the measurement of a leg. The other leg of the right
triangle measures 6 cm, while its hypotenuse is 10 cm.
To 몭nd the missing measurement of a leg of a right triangle, we can use the Pythagorean
theorem and manipulate the equation we will form.
2 2 2
a2 + b2 = c2 where a and b are the legs and c is the hypotenuse
36 + Q2 = 100
Q2 = 64
√Q² = √64
Q = ±8
Therefore, the missing measurement of the leg of the right triangle is 8 cm long. And since Q
represents the measurement of a leg of the right triangle, the value of Q must be 8 cm.
Pythagorean Triples
Pythagorean triples are three positive whole numbers that satisfy the Pythagorean theorem.
The smallest Pythagorean triples are 3, 4, and 5. Notice how they satisfy the Pythagorean
theorem:
If we let a = 3, b = 4, and c = 5:
a2 + b2 = c2
9 + 16 = 25
25 = 25
Let a = 1, b = 2, and c = 3
a2 + b2 = c2
(1)2 + (2)2 = (3)2
1+4=9
5≠9
1, 2, and 3 failed to satisfy the Pythagorean theorem, so they are not triples.
3, 4, and 5
5, 12, and 13
7, 24, and 25
8, 15, and 17
You can try it and con몭rm that these triples are all Pythagorean triples.
If you take the multiples of the triples listed above, you will still obtain a Pythagorean triple.
For instance, 5, 12, and 13 is a Pythagorean triple. If we multiply these three numbers by 4, we
have 20, 48, and 52; these new triples are also Pythagorean triples.
Solution: Yes, because 27, 36, and 45 are derived by multiplying each of 3, 4, and 5, which are
Pythagorean triples, by 9.
a2 + b2 = c2
The converse of the Pythagorean theorem tells us that if the square of the length of the
longest side of the triangle is equal to the sum of the squares of the lengths of the
remaining shorter sides, then the triangle formed is a right triangle.
remaining shorter sides, then the triangle formed is a right triangle.
Once we show that the condition above was satis몭ed, the triangle formed is a right triangle.
What if, for instance, the conditions of the converse of the Pythagorean theorem are
unsatis몭ed?
Case 1: If the square of the longest side is greater than the sum of the squares of the shorter
sides of the triangle or c2 > a2 + b2 (where a and b are shorter sides and c is the longest side). In
this case, we have an obtuse triangle.
Case 2: If the square of the triangle’s longest side is less than the sum of the squares of the
shorter sides or c2 < a2 + b2, then we have an acute triangle.
So, to summarize:
If a and b are the shorter sides of a triangle and c is its longest side:
Sample Problem 1: The shorter sides of a triangle have measurements of 2 cm, 4 cm, and 5
cm. Determine what type of triangle this is.
Solution: The square of the length of the longest side (the one that measures 5 cm) is (5)2 = 25.
The sum of the squares of the lengths of the shorter sides (the remaining sides) is:
(2)2 + (4)2 = 4 + 16 = 20
Notice that the square of the length of the longest side is greater than the sum of the squares
of the lengths of the shorter sides or c2 > a2 + b2. Thus, the triangle is obtuse.
Sample Problem 2: Triangle PQR has the following measurements: PQ = 5 cm, QR = 2 cm, and
PR = 7 cm. Determine whether the triangle is acute, right, or obtuse.
Solution: The triangle’s longest side is PR, which measures 7 cm. Its square is (7)2 = 49.
The sum of the squares of the lengths of the shorter sides PQ and QR is:
(5)2 + (2)2 = 25 + 4 = 29
Notice that the square of the length of the longest side is greater than the sum of the squares
of the lengths of the shorter sides or c2 > a2 + b2. Thus, triangle PQR is an obtuse triangle.
There are two types of special right triangles: the isosceles right triangles (or the 45° – 45° –
90° right triangle) and the 30° – 60° – 90° degree right triangles.
An isosceles right triangle is a right triangle such that its legs are congruent or have the same
measurement. In an isosceles right triangle, the acute interior angles near the hypotenuse
have degree measurements of 45°. This is why we call isosceles right triangles 45° – 45° – 90°
right triangles.
In an isosceles right triangle, the length of the hypotenuse is √2 times longer than the
measurement of a leg. Thus, you can determine the hypotenuse of the right triangle simply by
multiplying the measurement of a leg by √2. No need to use the Pythagorean theorem! Can you
imagine how quick and easy it is?
Sample Problem 1: Determine the measurement of the hypotenuse of the right triangle below.
Solution: Since the given right triangle is an isosceles right triangle, we can multiply the leg
measurement by √2 to obtain the hypotenuse. Thus, if the measurement of the leg is 5 cm,
then the hypotenuse is simply 5√2 cm long.
Sample Problem 2: Determine how long a square’s diagonal is with a side measuring 2 meters.
Solution: As we draw the square’s diagonal, we have formed a right triangle such that the legs
are the sides and the hypotenuse is the diagonal. Interestingly, the right triangle formed is an
isosceles right triangle since the legs are 2 meters long.
Thus, the hypotenuse of this isosceles right triangle we form is 2√2 meters. Since the
hypotenuse of this isosceles right triangle is also the square’s diagonal, the diagonal is 2√2
meters long.
In the previous example, we have derived a practical way to measure a square’s diagonal, given
only the square’s side. The square’s diagonal is simply the measurement of the side times √2.
This fantastic concept was a direct consequence of the isosceles right triangle theorem.
Sample Problem 3: The right triangle below has a hypotenuse with a length of 10 cm.
Determine the length of a leg of the right triangle.
Answer: Although the right triangle above seems peculiar from the right triangles we have
encountered earlier, it is still a right triangle because it has a right angle.
Anyway, the right triangle above is an isosceles right triangle because of the two 45-degree
angles you can see near the hypotenuse with a length of 10 cm.
According to the isosceles right triangle theorem, the hypotenuse is √2 times as long as the
leg. Thus, the measurement of a leg can be derived if we divide the measurement of the
hypotenuse by √2.
Thus, the measurement of the leg of the isosceles right triangle below is again just 10 divided
by √2 :
10 ÷ √2 = 몭몭∕√2
A 30° – 60° – 90° right triangle is another type of special right triangle. Unlike the previous
special right triangle we have discussed, the 30° – 60° – 90° right triangle has no congruent
sides. Furthermore, its acute interior angles have different measurements. One is a 30° angle,
while the other is a 60° angle.
The side of the 30° – 60° – 90° right triangle that is opposite the 30° angle is the shorter leg.
Meanwhile, the side opposite the 60° angle is the longer leg. Of course, the longest side is still
the hypotenuse opposite the right angle.
Again,
Hypotenuse = 2x
Look at the 30° – 60° – 90° right triangle below. Its shorter leg measures 2 cm. The longer leg
is 2√3 cm. Notice that the longer leg length is just the measure of the shorter leg times √3.
Meanwhile, its hypotenuse is 4 cm long, just twice the shorter leg’s measure.
Sample Problem 1: Determine the x and y values in the right triangle below.
Solution: Obviously, the given right triangle above is a 30° – 60° – 90° right triangle because
of the existence of 30-degree and 60-degree angles inside it.
To make our computation easy, let us determine 몭rst the shorter leg. Recall that the shorter leg
is the leg that is opposite to the 30-degree angle. If you take a look at the given image, the
shorter leg is the one that has a measure of 5 cm.
Meanwhile, the longer leg is the side with the letter y as the measurement since this side is
opposite the 60-degree angle.
Shorter leg = 5 cm
Longer leg = y
Hypotenuse = x
In a 30° – 60° – 90° right triangle, the hypotenuse length is just twice the length of the shorter
leg. Since the shorter leg is 5 cm, the hypotenuse is just 5(2) = 10 cm long. Since x represents
the hypotenuse of the right triangle, then x = 10 cm.
Meanwhile, the length of the longer leg is √3 times as long as the length of the shorter leg.
Thus, if the shorter leg is 5 cm long, the longer leg is 5(√3) = 5√3 cm long. Since y represents
the longer leg, then y = 5√3 cm.
The side with the letter p is the shorter leg of this 30° – 60° – 90° right triangle because this
side is opposite the 30-degree angle. Meanwhile, the side with a length of 8√3 is the longer leg
since this side is opposite the 60-degree angle.
Recall that in a 30° – 60° – 90° right triangle, the longer leg is √3 times longer than the shorter
leg. Now that we have 8√3 as the longer leg, how do we derive the length of the shorter leg?
8√3 ÷ √3 = 8
Thus, the shorter leg is 8 cm long. The measurement of the shorter leg is represented by p;
therefore, p = 8 cm.
Sample Problem 1: The diagonal of a rectangle is 35 cm long. If the width of the rectangle is 21
cm long, determine the perimeter of the rectangle.
Solution: The problem above can be solved easily if we create a diagram to illustrate it.
The problem requires us to 몭nd the perimeter of the rectangle above. Recall that the formula
for the perimeter of a rectangle is P = 2l + 2w where l is the length and w is the rectangle’s
width. We already have the width of the rectangle. Unfortunately, the problem didn’t provide us
with the length.
So, our goal is to look for the length of the rectangle, and then once we 몭nd it, we will
compute the perimeter of the rectangle.
How can we 몭nd the length of the rectangle using the given values in the problem?
If you look again at the given rectangle above, the diagonal formed a right triangle with the
diagonal as the hypotenuse and the width as one of the legs of the right triangle. This implies
that the other leg of this right triangle must be the length of the rectangle. Since the length of
the rectangle is unknown, we let x be the length of the rectangle.
We can now determine the length of the rectangle using the Pythagorean theorem.
The Pythagorean theorem states that a2 + b2 = c2 where a and b are the legs of the right
triangle and c is the hypotenuse. Since our legs are the length and the width of the rectangle,
then we have the following:
Let us now do the math and compute for the length (which is x):
a2 + b2 = c2
x2 + 441 = 1,225
x2 = 784
x = ±28
x = ±28
Since x represents the length of the rectangle, then the length of the rectangle is 28 cm.
We can now determine the perimeter of the rectangle since we have the length and width
measurements.
P = 2l + 2w
P = 2(28) + 2(21)
P = 56 + 42
P = 98
Sample Problem 2: A ladder measuring 5 meters long is leaning against a brick wall. The
ladder makes a 60° angle from the ground. Determine how tall the brick wall is.
So, we have a 5-meter ladder leaning against a wall. That ladder makes a 60-degree angle from
the ground. Our task is to 몭nd the height of the brick wall.
Looking closely at our illustration above, we formed a right triangle such that the ground and
the wall are the legs while the ladder is the hypotenuse. Furthermore, since the ladder created
a 60-degree angle, it is a 30°-60°-90° right triangle. Hence, the other acute angle in the 몭gure
must be a 30° angle.
The shorter leg is the side that is opposite the 30° angle. Thus, the shorter leg is the ground
between the ladder and the wall. Meanwhile, the longer leg is the side opposite the 60° angle.
Thus, the longer leg is the wall or the height of the wall.
We can start by determining the shorter leg 몭rst. According to our previous theorem about
30°- 60°- 90° triangles, the hypotenuse is twice as long as the shorter leg. Since the
hypotenuse of the right triangle in our illustration is the ladder, which is 5 meters long, the
shorter leg is simply 몭∕몭 or 2.5 meters long.
The longer leg is √3 times as long as the shorter leg. This means that the measurement of the
longer leg is just the product of √3 and the measurement of the shorter leg.
Since we have computed that the shorter leg’s measurement is 2.5 meters long, the longer
leg’s measurement must be 2.5√3 meters.
Recall that the height of the wall in the problem is equivalent to the longer leg of the right
triangle formed. Thus, the height of the wall in the problem is 2.5√3 meters.
Sample Problem 3: A right triangle is inscribed in a circle. Suppose the legs of the right
triangle are both 12 cm long. Determine the radius of the circle.
Solution: Based on our previous discussion about circles, the right triangle’s hypotenuse will
be the circle’s diameter when a right triangle is inscribed in a circle.
Thus, to 몭nd the circle’s radius in this problem, we can solve for the hypotenuse of the right
triangle 몭rst since it is also the circle’s diameter. Afterward, we will divide the result by 2 to
obtain the radius (since the circle’s diameter equals twice the circle’s radius).
The given legs of the right triangle are both 12 cm. Hence, we can conclude that this right
triangle is an isosceles right triangle. According to the isosceles right triangle theorem, the
length of the hypotenuse of an isosceles right triangle is √2 times as long as the length of the
legs. Thus, if the legs of the right triangle in the problem are 12 cm long, the hypotenuse must
be 12√2 cm long.
Again, since the hypotenuse is also the diameter of the circle, then the diameter of the circle is
12√2 cm. To obtain the radius, we divide 12√2 by 2:
12√2 ÷ 2 = 6√2
Remember the concepts you have learned about right triangles in this review because these
will be your primary tools to understand the trigonometric functions we will discuss in the next
review.
Test Yourself!
CONTINUE READING
Circle Problems With Solutions
In this chapter, let us view circles from a “geometric lens” and exercise
CONTINUE READING
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