Name_____________________________________________________ Date___________________________________

Topic_________________________________________________________________________ Period______________

Unit 6: Geometry
Lesson 1: The Pythagorean Theorem

The Pythagorean Theorem

The Pythagorean Theorem states that __________________________________________________________________.

“If a triangle is a right triangle, then the formula 𝑎2 + 𝑏 2 = 𝑐 2 will be true.” - Pythagoras

In this formula, a, b, and c are the sides of _____________________________________________________________.

The __________________________________ of a right triangle

touch the ___________________________________________.

The legs must be ________ and ________ in the formula!

The _______________________________________________ is

on the opposite side from the right angle.

The hypotenuse must be ________ in the formula!

The Pythagorean Theorem is used when you know the lengths of two sides of a right triangle and you want to find

__________________________________________________________________________________________________.

Find the missing side length of each right triangle.

Triangle 1 Triangle 2 Triangle 3

a=6 a=5 a = ________

b = ________ b = 12 b = 24

c = 10 c = ________ c = 25

You can also use a variation of the Pythagorean Theorem if you know all 3 side lengths of a triangle and want to find out

if the triangle is ____________________________________________________________________________________.

This is called the ____________________________________________________________________________________.

“If the formula 𝑎2 + 𝑏 2 = 𝑐 2 is true for a triangle, then it is a right triangle.” - Pythagoras

Sets of 3 numbers that could be the side lengths of a right triangle (that is, sets of 3 numbers that make the Pythagorean

Theorem equation true) are called _____________________________________________________________________.

Are these sets of numbers Pythagorean triples?

3, 4, and 5 ____________________________ 6, 7, and 8 ______________________________

9, 10, and 12 __________________________ 9, 12, and 15 ____________________________

10, 24, and 26 _________________________ 15, 25, and 30 ___________________________

© Copyright 2016 Dana O’Rourke
 Justifying the Pythagorean Theorem
We can prove the Pythagorean Theorem works by using a geometric model and some basic algebra.

Let’s start with a right triangle whose sides measure __________ inches, __________ inches, and __________ inches.

Since the formula squares the length of each side, we’ll make a square out of each side:

o The side lengths of each square are the same as the side length of the
triangle side to which it is connected. Label each side length.

o The small square has side lengths of ________ inches (𝑎).

o The medium square has side lengths of ________ inches (𝑏).

o The large square has side lengths of ________ inches (𝑐).

o The side length of a square, squared, (𝑠 2 ) gives you the

AREA of that square.

o The area of the small square is ___________ in2. This is 𝑎2 .

o The area of the medium square is ___________ in2. This is 𝑏 2 .

o The area of the large square is ___________ in2. This is 𝑐 2 .

o The area of the small square (𝑎2 ) plus the area of the medium square (𝑏 2 ) equals __________________ in2.

o Those two squares together have the same area as _________________________________________________.

Practice
Find the missing side length of each right triangle. If necessary, round to the nearest hundredth.

9
8
15
5 11
12

______________________________ ______________________________ _____________________________

Could each set of numbers be the three sides of a right triangle? Find the missing measurement:

10, 20, and 30 _____________ a = 27 yds.

9, 12, and 15 _____________ b = _____________

10, 24, and 26 _____________ c = 45 yds.

4, 15, and 17 _____________

© Copyright 2016 Dana O’Rourke
Name________________________________________________ Date_________________________ Period__________

Unit 6: Geometry
Lesson 1: The Pythagorean Theorem

Assignment 6.1
Directions: Find the missing measurement in these right triangles. Round to the nearest tenth if necessary.

1. 2. 8 3.

10
4.5 14
4
2

________________________________ ________________________________ _______________________________

4. 5. 6.
12
8 3
20
11
25

________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________

Directions: Could the set of numbers be the three sides of a right triangle? Write yes or no.

7. 6, 12, and 13 8. 14, 48, and 50 9. 10, 18, and 22

___________________________ __________________________ ___________________________

7. 8, 15, and 17 8. 20, 21, and 30 9. 20, 21, and 29

___________________________ __________________________ ___________________________

Directions: Find the missing measurement. Round to the nearest tenth if necessary.

10. a = 11. a = 30 12. a = 5

b = 60 b = 16 b=

c = 61 c= c = 11

© Copyright 2016 Dana O’Rourke