18

PYTHAGORAS THEOREM

(18.1) INTRODUCTION
right-angled triangle, the side opposite to triangle.
the angle of
In a the largest side of the
90° is caled hypoternuse. It is right-angled triangle ABC in
otenuse

Hypoten

The adjoining figure shows aopposite to angle ABC (ZABC

which angle ABC is 90°. The side side AC is hypotenuse and is
the
= 90) is the hypotenuse i.e. Base
ABC.
largest side of triangle
Buddhayan and then a Greek
An Indian Mathematician,
Pythagoras
triangle developed
and the Mathematright-ainglciaen,d
the relation between the square of hypotenuse of a
sum of the squares of the remaining two sides of the triangle. This
theorem.
relationship is known as Pythagoras
18.2 PYTHAGORAS THEOREM
In a right-angled triangle, the square of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the
squares of the other two sides.
BAC =90°.
The adjoining figure shows a triangle ABC with angle hypotenuse g0°
The side opposite to angle BAC is BC. Therefore, BC is
whereas AB and AC are the remaining two sides.
B
According to Pythagoras theorem :
sides
Square of the hypotenuse = Sum of the squares of the remaining two
BDz = AB² + AC2
The following figures will make this concept more clear :
(ii)
Hypotenuse

Hypotenus ’ AB² = AC2 + BC2

90°
’ PR? = PQ² +QR²

18.3 CONVERSE OF PYTHAGORAS THEOREM

In a triangle, if the square of one side (longest side) is equal to the sum o
Squares of the remaining two sides, then the angle opposite to the first side (longest siue
is a right angle and so the triangle under consideration is a right-angled triangle.
The adjoining figure shows a triangle in which AB is the largest
side and
the square of AB =Sum of the squares of the sides AC and BC.
i.e. AB2= AC2 + BC2
angle opposite to the longest side AB is 90°
ZACB = 90° and so the triangle ABC is a right-angled triangle. b
Schoo -7
204 Concise MATHEMATICS Middle
 clear :
followingfigures
the If BC2 = AB² + AC2
Make
ZA = 90°
and, so the given triangle ABC is a right-angled triangle.

If PR? = PQ² + QR2

ZQ = 90°
and, so the given triangle PQR is a right-angled triangle.

Example
1:
ABC is right-angled
at vertex A. Calculate the length of side BC, if
Triangle cm.
and AC = 6
cm
8
AB=
Solution: vertex A means
triangle is right-angled at
The given
90° and so BC
is hypotenuse. 6 cm

angleA
=
Pythagoras theorem :
According to AC2
BC² = AB² +
B 8 cm A
36 = 100
=82 + 62 = 64 + (Ans.)
10cm
BC =J100 cm=

Example2:
at vertex Z. Calculate the length of YZ, if :
right-angled
The triangle XYZ is
XZ = 9 cm.
XY = 15 cm and
Solution :
Given Z = 90° 1 5
c m

hypotenuse.
side XY is the
theorem :
According to Pythagoras
XY² =XZ2+ YZ?
152 = 92+ YZ?
225 = 81 + YZ2
’ 225 - 81 = YZ2
144 = Yz2 (Ans.)
i.e. YZ = J144 cm = 12 cm
Example 3: Calculate the length of side PR,if
at vertex R.
Triangle POR is right-angled
PQ = 25 cm and OR = 20 cm.
(205
Pythagoras Theorem
 Solution:
According to Pythagoras theorem :
PR2 + QR² = PQ2 25
cm

PR² + 20² =252

PR2= 625 - 400
= 225 20 cm
PR= J225 cm = 15 cm
Example 4:
The sides of a triangle are 20 cm, 9 cm and 12 cm.
Is this
triangle. triangle a
Solution:
The given triangle will be a
righnt-angjad
equal to the sum of the squares ofright-angled triangle if the Square of
its
i.e. if (20)² =(9) + (12)²
the other two sides.
largest side is
(20) = 400
and, (9) + (12) = 81 + 144
=225
Since, 400 225
(20) (9) + (12)2
And, so the triangle is not a
right-angled triangle.
Example 5: (Ans.)
In the given figure, angle ACB = angle
AB = 25 cm, AD = 17 cm and AC = 15 cm. ACD = 90°,
Find:
() BC (ü) CD (ii) BD
Solution :
() In right-angled triangle ABC,
AB =25 cm and AC = 15 cm
D
o
Applying Pythagoras theorem, we get :
AC2 + BC2 = AB2
152 + BC2 = 252 i.e. 225 + BC² =
625
BC² = 625 - 225 = 400
BC = J400 cm = 20 cm (Ans)
(ü) In right-angled
triangle
ACD,
AD = 17 cm and AC = 15
cm
Applying Pythagoras theorem, we get:
AC2 + CD² = AD?
152 + CD = 172 ie.
225 + CD² = 289
206 School--7
Concise MATHEMATICS Middle
 225 = 64
CD² =289 -
8 cm
CD= V64 cm = (Ans.)
BD= BC + CD
cm
=20 cm + 8 cm = 28 (Ans.)
Extra
intomation
.
a triangle ABC in which side AB is the largest side. Then, there can be
Consider
possible cases.
three
lolowing

he
Ac2
BC²+ with ZC = 90.
AB= right-angled triangle
SABCisa

AC2
BC+
AB>
2. isan
obtuse-angled triangle with ZC> 90°.
AABC

BC²+ AC2 ZC < 90°

3 AB2< acute-angled triangle with B.
AABC is an

EXERCISE 18

vertex A. Calculatethe length of BC. if

right-angled at
1. Triangle ABC is
cm and AC = 24 cm. 30cm length of YZ, if
AB = 18 vertex Z. Calculate the
right-angled at
2. Triangle XYZ is
=12 cm. bc
XY = 13cm and XZ
at vertex R. Calculate the length of PR, if :
right-angled
3. Triangle PQR is cm. right-triangle.
PQ= 2-6 cm and QR = 2.4 below. Find which of them is
triangle are given
The sides of a certain
13 m
() 6 m, 9 m and
() 16 cm, 20 cm and 12 cm
90°,
5. In the adjoining figure, angle BAC =
m. Find the
AC =400 m and AB = 300
length of BC

207

Pythagoras Theorem
 given figures, angle ACP = ZBDP= 90
6. In the BD = 9 m and PA =
PB = 15 m
AC = 12 m,
Find :
() CP
(ii) PD
(ii) CD
C
find:
7. In triangle PQR, angle Q= 90°,
() PR, if PQ = 8 cm and QR = 6 cm (ii) PQ, if PR = 34 cm and
OR =30
8. Show that the triangle ABC is a right-angled triangle; if:
AB = 9 cm, BC = 40cm and AC = 41 cm.
9. In the given figure, angle ACB = 90° = angle ACD.
If AB = 10 cm, BC= 6 cm and AD = 17 cm, find:
(0) AC
(i) CD
B C

A
10. In the given figure, angle ADB = 90°, AC = AB = 26 cm
and BD = DC. If the length of AD =24 cm; find thelength
of BC.

1t.ta the given fiqure, AD = 13 cm, BC = 12 cm, 13

AB =3 cm and angle ACD angle ABC =90°.
Find the length of DC.

12. A ladder, 6-5 m long, rests against a vertical wall. F the foot of the
from the foot of the wall, find upto how much height ladderS2
does the ladder reaci
13. Aboy first goes 5 mdue north and then 12 mdue east. Find the stance bete
the initial and the final
positions of the boy.
14. Use the information given in the
the length of AD. adjgining figure to find

10 cm

208 Concise MATHEMATICS Schoo--7