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Pythagorean Theorem

The document discusses right triangles, defining them and introducing the Pythagorean Theorem, which states that in a right triangle, the square of the hypotenuse equals the sum of the squares of the legs. It also presents the converse of the theorem, explaining how to determine if a triangle is a right triangle based on the lengths of its sides. Additionally, the document includes illustrative examples demonstrating the application of the theorem in solving problems.

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20 views3 pages

Pythagorean Theorem

The document discusses right triangles, defining them and introducing the Pythagorean Theorem, which states that in a right triangle, the square of the hypotenuse equals the sum of the squares of the legs. It also presents the converse of the theorem, explaining how to determine if a triangle is a right triangle based on the lengths of its sides. Additionally, the document includes illustrative examples demonstrating the application of the theorem in solving problems.

Uploaded by

juanmanuortiz060
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Discussion

Right Triangle
✓ The classification of a triangle according to angles, whose one angle is right angle.
✓ The side opposite the right angle of a right triangle is called the hypotenuse. The
other sides are called the legs.

The Pythagorean Theorem is one of the earliest theorems known to ancient


civilizations. This famous theorem is named after the Greek mathematician and
philosopher, Pythagoras.

THE PYTHAGOREAN THEOREM

The Pythagorean Theorem is a statement about right


triangles. The Pythagorean Theorem states that:
“In a right triangle, the square of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum
of the squares of the legs”

Proof: Let ∆ABC be a right triangle with legs a and b and hypothenuse c. We will prove
that
𝑎2+ b2 = c2

Let 𝐿𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑠𝑒𝑔𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝐶𝐷 be the altitude to the hypothenuse. Let AD = x and DB = y.


Since each leg of ∆ABC is the geometric mean of the hypothenuse and the segment of
𝑐 𝑏 𝑐 𝑎
the hypothenuse adjacent to that leg, then 𝑏 = 𝑥 and 𝑎 = 𝑦 . Hence, b2 = cx and a2 = cy.

Since x + y = c, we have 𝑎2+ b2 = cy + cx = c (y + x) = c ● c = c2. Therefore, 𝑎2+ b2 = c2


CONVERSE OF THE PYTHAGOREAN THEOREM

“If the square of the length of the longest side of a triangle is


equal to the sum of the squares of the lengths of the other two
sides, then the triangle is a right triangle”
Application.

Proof:
Consider ∆ABC with sides a and b and c such that c2 = a2 + b2. We prove that
∆ABC is a right triangle.

First draw ∆DEF with right angle F, hypothenuse d, and legs a and b. By the Pythagorean
Theorem, d2 = a2 + b2. So, c2 = d2 or c = d. By the SSS Congruence Postulate Theorem,
∆ABC ≅∆DEF which implies that ∠C ≅ ∠F, since ∠F is a right angle, so also is ∠C.
Therefore, ∆ABC is a right triangle.
Illustrative Examples
a. In the company figure, if a = 6 and c = 8, what is b?
Solution: By the Pythagorean Theorem, we have
c2 = a2 + b2
82 = 6 2 + b 2
64 – 36 = b2
28 = b2

2√7 = b
b. If the foot of a 10-meter ladder is placed 6 meters away from a building, how high
up the building will the ladder reach?

Solution: c2 = a2 + b2
102 = 62 + b2
b2 = 102 - 62
b2 = 100 – 36
b2 = 64
b = √64 = 8
Therefore, the ladder will reach 8 cm high up from the
ground.
c. The lengths of the sides of a triangle are 6, 9 and 13. Determine whether the
triangle is a right triangle.
Solution: A triangle is a right triangle if it satisfies the
Pythagorean Theorem. That is, if the square of the
length of the longest side is equal to the sum of the
squares of the lengths of the other two sides.
Using the Pythagorean Theorem and by
substitution, we have
c2 = 132 = 169
𝑎2+ b2 = 62 + 92 = 36 + 81 = 117
𝑆𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑒 c ≠ a + b2, then the given lengths are not that of
2 2

a right triangle.

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