18.

1 INTRODUCTION
PYTHAGORAS THEOREM
18
In aright-angled triangle, the side opposite to the angle of
90° is called hypotenuse. It is the largest side of the triangle. Hypotenuse

Heioht

The adjoining figure shows a right-angled triangle ABC in

which angle ABC is 90°. The side opposite to angle ABC (ABC
= 90°) is the hypotenuse i.e. side AC is hypotenuse and is the
Base
largest side of triangle ABC.
An Indian Mathematician, Buddhayan and then a Greek Mathematician,
Pythagoras developed the relation between the square of hypotenuse of a right-angled
triangle and the sum of the squares of the remaining two sides of the triangle. This
relationship is known as Pythagoras theorem.
|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.
The adjoining figure shows a triangle ABC with angle BAC = 90°.
90°
The side opposite to angle BAC is BC. Therefore, BC is hypotenuse
whereas AB and AC are the remaining two sides.
According to Pythagoras theorem :
Square of the hypotenuse = Sum of the squares of the remaining two sides
BC2 = AB2 + AC
The following figures will make this concept more clear :
() (ii)

Hypotenus
Hypotenuse

’ AB² = AC2 + Bc2 ’ PR2 = PO² + OR?

co P

|18.3 CONVERSE OF PYTHAGORAS THEOREM

In a triangle, if the square of one side (longest
side) is equal to the sum of tie
ogUares of the remaining two sides, then the angle opposite
ia right angle and so the triangle under to the first side (longest Sioe
consideration
The adioining figure showS a triangle in
is a right-angled triangle.
side and
which AB is the largest
the square of AB = Sum of the squares of the sides AC and BC.
ie. 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 School7
216 Concise
MATHEMATICS Middle
 Makethe following figures clear :
If BC² = AB² + AC2
ZA = 90°

and, so the given triangle ABC is a right-angled triangle.

() If PR² = PQ2 + QR2

2Q = 90°

R
and, so the given triangle PQR is a right-angled triangle.

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

According to Pythagoras theorem :

BC2 = AB² + AC2 B 8 cm p A
= 82 + 62 = 64 + 36 = 100
(Ans.)
BC = J100 cm = 10 cm

Example 2: if :
vertex Z. Calculate the length of YZ,
The triangle XYZ is right-angled at
XY = 15 cm and XZ = 9 cm.

Solution:
Given Z = 90°
1 5
c m cm
side XY is the hypotenuse.
theorem :
According to Pythagoras
Xy2 = Xz2 + YZ?
152 = 92+ YZ2
225 = 81 + YZ2
’ 225- 81 = Yz2
144 = Yz2
12 cm (Ans.)
ie. YZ=44 cm =
Example 3:
side PR. if
Triangle POR is right-angled at vertex R. Calculate the length of
cm.
PQ = 25 cm and QR = 20

Pythagoras Theorem. 217

Solution: 25
cm

According to Pythagoras theorem :

PR2 + OR? = PQ2
PR2 + 20 =252
20 crn R
PR² = 625 - 400
= 225
(Ans.)
PR= 225 cmn = 15 cm

Example 4: right-angled
of a triangle are 20 cm, 9 cm and 12 cm. Is this triangle a
The sides
triangle.
Solution :
triangle if the square of its largest side is
The given triangle will be a right-angled
other two sides.
equal to the sum of the squares of the
i.e. if (20) = (9)2 + (12)?
(20)2 = 400
and, (9)² + (12)2 = 81 + 144
= 225

Since, 400 225

(20)° (9)² + (12)2

And, so the triangle is not a right-angled triangle. (Ans.)

Example 5 :
In the given figure, angle ACB = angle ACD = 90°,
AB = 25 cm, AD = 17 cm and AC = 15 cm. Find: 2 5
c m

() BC (i) CD (ii) BD
Solution:
() In right-angled triangle ABC, D
AB = 25 cm and AC = 15 cm
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.)
(i) In right-angled triangle ACD,
AD = 17 cm and AC= 15 cm
Applying Pythagoras theorem, we get :
AC2+ CD2 = AD2
152 + CD² = 172 ie. 225 + CD²= 289

(218 Concise MATHEMATICS Middle School 7

 CD² = 289 - 225 = 64
CD = J64 cm =8 cm (Ans.)
BD = BC + CD
(ii)
= 20 cm + 8 cm = 28 cm (Ans.)
Extra information :
Consider a triangle ABC in which side AB is the largest side. Then, there can be
the following three possible cases. A

1. AB² = BC² + AC2

AABC is a right-angled triangle with ZC= 90.
B

2. AB² > BC² + AC2

90°.
’ AABC is an obtuse-angled triangle with ZC > B

3. AB² < BC² + AC2

ZC< 90°.
AABC is an acute-angled triangle with
B

EXERCISE 18

length of BC, if
Triangle ABC is right-angled at vertex A. Calculate the
1.
AC = 24 cm.
AB = 18 cm and Calculate the length of YZ. if
right-angled at vertex Z.
2. Triangle XYZ is
XZ = 12 cm.
XY = 13 cm and Calculate the length of PR. if :
is right-angled at vertex R.
3. Triangle PQR 2.4 cm.
and QR =
PQ = 2.6 cm given below. Find whether they are right angled
The sides of certain triangles are
'4.
triangles or not.
and 12 cm (iü) 6 m, 9 m and 13 m
16 cm, 20 cm
() = 90°
adjoining tigure, angle BAC
5. In the 400 m and AB = 300 m. Find the
AC =
length of BC
B

Pythagoras Theorem 219

06. In the given figures, angle ACP = ZBDP = 90",
AC = 12 m, BD = 9 m and PA = PB =15 m.
Find:
(i) CP
(i) PD
(ii) CD P D

7. In triangle PQR, angle Q = 90°, find : and QR 30 cm

() PR, if PQ = 8 cm and QR = 6 m (ii) PQ, if PR = 34 cm

8. Show that the triangle ABC is a right-angled triangle; if : A

AB = 9 cm, BC= 40 cm 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 :
() AC
D
(ii) CD B
o
A

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

cm, BC = 12 cm,
11. In the given figure, AD = 13 ABC = 90°.
AB = 3 cm and angle ACD = angle
Find the length of DC.

m
vertical wall. If the foot of the ladder is 2:5
12.A ladder, 6-5 m long, rests against a height does the ladder reach ?
from the foot of the wall, find upto how much
12 m due east. Find the distance between
13. A boy first goes 5 m due north and then
boy.
the initial and the final positions of the <---
figure to find
14.Use the information given in the adjoining
the length of AD.

10 cm ---

24 cm

220 Concise MATHEMATICS Middle School 7

choosethhecorrect
answer
The value of x is :
MULTI PLE
from the options
CHOICE TYPE
() 10m
given below .
(i) 16m
(i) 9 m
15 m
(iv) none of
these 12m

2.
Atree is broken
at a height of 5 m
touches the ground at a from the ground and
its top
i base of the distance of 12 mfrom
tree. The original height
()13 m of the tree is :
|5 m
(i) 27 m
(ii) 18 m
(iv) 20 m 12 m
3. From a point P, a boy travels 12 km
nint Q. The shortest distance due east and then travels 9 km due north to
() 15 km
between points P and Q is :
(i) 3 km (ii) 21 km (iv) 20 km
A. The value of x is:
() 5/2 (i) 5
10v2
(ii) 10 (iv) 6 x

5. The value of x is:

(i) 15 (i) 21
(ii) 23 (iv) 17 10 X

15
6. The value of x is :
() 21 (ii) 15 10 17

(ii) 17 (iv) 27
D

:
7. The perimeter of quadrilateral (rhombus) ABCD is 8 cm
(ii) 40 cm 6 cm
() 56 cm
(iv) none of these
(iii) 28 cm A

D
(rectangle) ABCD is :
8. The perimeter of quadrilateral
(ii) 36 cm 10 cm
(i) 32 cm
(iv) 38 cm
(ii) 28 cm
cm
A B
9. Length of BC is: 12 cm
8 cm
(i) 28 cm
(i) 16 cm
(iv) 20 cm
(ii) 10 cm B400
50°c
Pythagoras Theorem 221