Paradigm Specialising in O & N Level Mathematics
5 MUST KNOW QUESTIONS TO CONQUER
PYTHAGORAS THEOREM
1 The diagram shows a triangle ABC with sides 𝐴𝐵 = 13 cm, 𝐴𝐶 = 19 cm, 𝐵𝐷 = 5
cm and angle 𝐴𝐷𝐵 = 90°.
(a) Find the length of AD. [2]
(b) Hence or otherwise, find the length of CD. [1]
(c) Is angle 𝐴𝐵𝐶 = 90°?
Show your reason clearly. [2]
2 The diagram shows a ladder, XY, that leans against a vertical wall where 𝑋𝑍 = 3.5
m and 𝑌𝑍 = 2 m.
(a) Find the length of the ladder.
(b) The upper end X slides down 1.2 m to a [2]
point A. Calculate the distance the lower end
Y has slid away from its original position to
a point B. [3]
3 In the figure below, 𝐴𝐵 = 50 cm, 𝐵𝐶 = 48 cm and 𝐴𝐶 = 14 cm.
(a) Determine if ∆𝐴𝐶𝐵 is a right-angled triangle. [2]
(b) Find the length CM, which is the perpendicular distance from C to AB. [2]
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Paradigm Specialising in O & N Level Mathematics
4 Triangle ABC is an isosceles triangle. 𝐵𝐶 = (2𝑟 − 4) cm and 𝐴𝐵 = 𝐴𝐶 = 𝑟 cm.
𝐴𝐹 = (𝑟 − 3) cm is the perpendicular height of triangle ABC.
[1]
(a) Write down an expression, in terms of r, for BF.
(b) By using Pythagoras’ Theorem, form an equation in r and show that it
[2]
reduces to 𝑟 2 − 10𝑟 + 13 = 0.
[2]
(c) Solve the equation 𝑟 2 − 10𝑟 + 13 = 0.
5 Use Pythagoras’ Theorem to decide whether triangle 𝐴𝐵𝐶 shown in the figure
below is a right-angled triangle. [2]
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Paradigm Specialising in O & N Level Mathematics
Answer Key
1 Solutions:
(a) By Pythagoras Theorem, (c) 𝐵𝐶 = √72 − 52
𝐴𝐷 = √132 − 52 = √74 𝑐𝑚
= 12 cm 𝐴𝐵 + 𝐵𝐶 2 = 132 + (√74)2
2
= 243
(b) 𝐶𝐷 = 19 − 12 = 7 cm 𝐴𝐶 2 = 192
= 361
Since 𝐴𝐵 2 + 𝐵𝐶 2 ≠ 𝐴𝐶 2 , by the converse of
Pythagoras’ Theorem, ∡𝐴𝐵𝐶 is not 90°.
Ans: (a) 12 cm (b) 7 cm
2 Solutions:
(b)
(a) Using Pythagoras’ Theorem,
𝑋𝑌 = √3.52 + 22
= 4.0311288 Using Pythagoras’ Theorem
= 4.03𝑚 𝐵𝑍 2 = 4.03112 − 2.32
𝐵𝑍 = √10.95976
𝐵𝑍 = 3.31055
𝐵𝑍 = 3.31 m
Ans: (a) 4.03𝑚 (b) 1.31𝑚 3.31 − 2 = 1.31𝑚
3 Solutions:
(a) 142 + 482 = 2500
502 = 2500
Since 142 + 482 = 502
Therefore ∆𝐴𝐶𝐵 is a right-angled triangle by Pythagoras Theorem
1 1
(b) 2 × 𝐶𝑀 × 50 = 2 × 14 × 48
336
𝐶𝑀 = 25
𝐶𝑀 = 13.44𝑐𝑚
Ans: (b) 13.44𝑐𝑚
4 Solutions: (a)
(c) 𝑟 2 − 10𝑟 + 13 = 0
(b) 𝐴𝐶 = √𝐴𝐹 2 + 𝐹𝐶 2
−𝑏±√𝑏 2 −4𝑎𝑐
𝑟 = √(𝑟 − 3)2 + (𝑟 − 2)2 𝑟= 2𝑎
=
𝑟 = √(𝑟 2 − 6𝑟 + 9) + (𝑟 2 − 4𝑟 + 4) −(−10)±√(−10)2 −4(1)(13)
=
10±√48
2(1) 2
𝑟 = √2𝑟 2 − 10𝑟 + 13
𝑟 2 = 2𝑟 2 − 10𝑟 + 13
𝑟 = 8.4641 𝑜𝑟 1.5359
𝑟 2 − 10𝑟 + 13 = 0 (shown)
Ans: (a) 𝑟 − 2 (c) 8.4641 𝑜𝑟 1.5359
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Paradigm Specialising in O & N Level Mathematics
5 Ans:
𝐴𝐵 2 = 132
= 169
𝐵𝐶 + 𝐶𝐴2 = 112 + 42
2
= 137
𝐴𝐵 ≠ 𝐵𝐶 2 + 𝐶𝐴2
2
∆𝐴𝐵𝐶 is not a right-angled triangle.
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