MATHEMATICS FORM 3 PHYTAGORAS THEOREM

Years ago, a man named Pythagoras found an amazing fact about triangles:

If the triangle had a right angle (90) ... ... and you made a square on each of the three sides, then ...
... the biggest square had the exact same area as the other two squares put together!

It is called "Pythagoras' Theorem" and can be written in one short equation:

a2 + b2 = c2

Note: c is the longest side of the triangle a and b are the other two sides

Definition
The longest side of the triangle is called the "hypotenuse", so the formal definition is:

In a right angled triangle: the square of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides.

Sure ... ?
Let's see if it really works using an example.

Example: A "3,4,5" triangle has a right angle in it.

Let's check if the areas are the same:

32 + 42 = 52
Calculating this becomes:

9 + 16 = 25
It works ... like Magic!

Why Is This Useful?

If we know the lengths of two sides of a right angled triangle, we can find the length of the third side. (But remember it only works on right angled triangles!)

How Do I Use it?

Write it down as an equation:

a2 + b2 = c2

Now you can use algebra to find any missing value, as in the following examples:

Example: Solve this triangle.

a2 + b2 = c2 52 + 122 = c2 25 + 144 = c2 169 = c2 c2 = 169 c = 169 c = 13

You can also read about Squares and Square Roots to find out why 169 = 13

Example: Solve this triangle. a2 + b2 = c2 92 + b2 = 152 81 + b2 = 225

Take 81 from both sides:

b2 = 144 b = 144 b = 12 Example: What is the diagonal distance across a square of size 1? a2 + b2 = c2 12 + 12 = c2 1 + 1 = c2 2 = c2 c2 = 2 c = 2 = 1.4142...
It works the other way around, too: when the three sides of a triangle make then the triangle is right angled.

a2 + b2 = c2,

Example: Does this triangle have a Right Angle?

Does

a2 + b2 = c2 ?
a2 + b2 = 102 + 242 = 100 + 576 = 676 c2 = 262 = 676

They are equal, so ...

Yes, it does have a Right Angle! Example: Does an 8, 15, 16 triangle have a Right Angle? Does 82 + 152 = 162 ?

82 + 152 = 64 + 225 = 289, but 162 = 256

So, NO, it does not have a Right Angle Example: Does this triangle have a Right Angle?
Does

a2 + b2 = c2 ? Does (3)2 + (5)2 = (8)2 ? Does 3 + 5 = 8 ? Yes, it does!

So this is a right-angled triangle

And You Can Prove The Theorem Yourself !

Get paper pen and scissors, then using the following animation as a guide: Draw a right angled triangle on the paper, leaving plenty of space. Draw a square along the hypotenuse (the longest side) Draw the same sized square on the other side of the hypotenuse Draw lines as shown on the animation, like this:

Cut out the shapes Arrange them so that you can prove that the big square has the same area as the two squares on the other sides

Another, Amazingly Simple, Proof

Here is one of the oldest proofs that the square on the long side has the same area as the other squares.

Watch the animation, and pay attention when the triangles start sliding around. You may want to watch the animation a few times to understand what is happening. The purple triangle is the important one.

EXAMPLE QUESTIONS AND WAYS TO OVERCOME IT

Solve this triangle

A
c=5

B
c = 25

C
c = 527

D
c = 31 a2 + b2 = c2 72 + 242 = c2
2

49 + 576 = c c = 625 c = 625 c = 25

or 7x24=168 /168=25

Solve this triangle (It is not drawn to scale)

A
a=5

B
a = 35

C
a = 135

D
a = 377 a2 + b2 = c2 a2 + 112 = 162

+ 121 = 256

Take 121 from both sides:

= 256 - 121 = 135

a = 135
What is the length of the diagonal of a rectangle of length 3 and width 2?

A
5

B
13

C
5

D
6

The rectangle can be divided up into two right-angled triangles, as shown in the diagram. We can find the length of the diagonal, d, by using Pythagoras' theorem in one triangle: d2 = 32 + 22 = 9 + 4 = 13

d = 13

Which one of the following triangles is NOT a right triangle? A Which one of the following triangles is NOT a right triangle?

Use the converse of Pythagoras' Theorem: When the three sides of a triangle make a2 + b2 = c2, then the triangle is right angled. In A, 62 + 82 = 36 + 64 = 100 = 102, so the triangle is a right triangle In B, (3)2 + (8)2 = 3 + 8 = 11 = (11)2, so the triangle is a right triangle In C, 32 + 52 = 9 + 25 = 34 62, so the triangle is not a right triangle In D, 32 + (10)2 = 9 + 10 = 19 = (19)2, so the triangle is a right triangle

What is the length of the side x?

A
x=5

B
x = 34

C
x = 211

D
x = 261 In this question there are two right triangles. Use Pythagoras' Theorem in each of them in turn:

c2 = 62 + 82 = 36 + 64 = 100 So c = 100 = 10 Now we know the value of c, mark it in on the second triangle and use Pythagoras' Theorem again:

122 = 102 + x2
2

144 = 100 + x x = 144 - 100 = 44 x = 44 = 211

2

Which one of the following triangles is a right triangle?

A
A

B
B

C
C

D
D Use the converse of Pythagoras' Theorem: When the three sides of a triangle make a2 + b2 = c2, then the triangle is right angled. In A, (7)2 + (10)2 = 7 + 10 = 17 42, so the triangle is not a right triangle In B, (10)2 + 32 = 10 + 9 = 19 = (19)2, so the triangle is a right triangle In C, 42 + 112 = 16 + 121 = 137 122, so the triangle is not a right triangle In D, 62 + (12)2 = 36 + 12 = 48 72, so the triangle is not a right triangle

The diagram shows a kite ABCD. The diagonals cut at right angles and intersect at O. What is the length of the diagonal AC?

A
16

B
19

C
389

D
21

Use Pythagoras' Theorem twice: 1. In triangle AOD

102 = x2 + 82

100 = x + 64 x = 100 - 64 = 36 x = 36 = 6
2 2

1. In triangle COD

172 = y2 + 82

289 = y + 64 y = 289 - 64 = 225 y = 225 = 15

2 2

Therefore the length of AC = x + y = 6 + 15 = 21

Town B is 8 miles north and 17 miles east of town A. How far are the two towns apart?

A
15 miles

B
18.5 miles

C
18.8 miles

D
25 miles Complete the right-angled triangle ABC showing that B is 8 miles north and 17 miles east of A:

We are asked to find the distance from A to B = c miles. By Pythagoras: c2 = a2 + b2

c = 8 + 17 = 64 + 289 = 353 c = 353 = 18.8 correct to one decimal place.

2 2 2

The two towns are 18.8 miles apart.

A 3m ladder stands on horizontal ground and reaches 2.8 m up a vertical wall. How far is the foot of the ladder from the base of the wall?

A
0.2 m

B
1.08 m

C
1.47 m

D
4.10 m Complete a right-angled triangle ABC showing that the ladder is 3 m long and the distance up the wall is 2.8 m:

We are asked to find the distance from the foot of the ladder to the base of the wall = "a" m. By Pythagoras: c2 = a2 + b2

= a2 + 2.82

 9 = a + 7.84 a = 9 - 7.84 = 1.16 a = 1.16 = 1.08 correct to 2 decimal places

2 2

The foot of the ladder is 1.08 m from the base of the wall A rectangular field is 125 yards long and the length of one diagonal of the field is 150 yards. What is the width of the field?

A
82.9 yards

B
83.2 yards

C
88.7 yards

D
195.3 yards The rectangular field is two right-angled triangles (one of which is triangle ABC):

We are asked to find the width of the field = b yds. By Pythagoras: c2 = a2 + b2

2 2 2 2

150 = 125 + b 22,500 = 15,625 + b b = 22,500 - 15,625 = 6,875 b = 6,875 = 82.9 correct to 1 decimal place
2

The width of the field is 82.9 yards. Question of the day!!!fractions

If 2 is subtracted from the numerator and 1 is added to the denominator, Find the fraction.

A B C D
Let x be the numerator and y be the denominator of the fraction. The fraction is

--------------(1)

---------------(2) Solving for x and y using equations (1) and (2),

5x - 2y = 9 -6x +2y = -14 -x = -5, x = 5. 25 - 2y = 9 -2y = 9 - 25 = -16 y = 8. Therefore, the fraction is