Guide to the

pythagorean
theorem
Word Problems Right Triangles
By Racquel Fox
December 16, 2013
1. 12, 15, 20
12
2
+ 15
2
= 20
2
144 + 225 = 400
369 = 400
Not A Right Triangle
2. 18, 24, 30
18
2
+ 24
2
= 30
2
324 + 576 = 900
900 = 900
A Right Triangle
3. 20, 21, 29
20
2
+ 21
2
= 29
2
400 + 441 = 841
841 = 841
A Right Triangle
4. 2.1, 2.8 , 3.5
2.1
2
+ 2.8
2
= 3.5
2

4.41 + 7.84 = 12.25
12.25 = 12.25
A Right Triangle
1. 12
2
2.5
2
= a
2
144 6.25 = a
2
137.75 = a
2
11.7 = a
2. 120
2
+ 45
2
= c
2

14400 + 2025 = c
2

16425 = c
2
128.2 = c
3. 90
2
+ 90
2
= c
2

8100 + 8100 = c
2
16200 = c
2
127.3 = c
4. 6
2
+ 9
2
= c
2

36 + 81 = c
2

117 = c
2

10.8 = c
5. 10
2
+ 10
2
= c
2

100 + 100 = c
2

200 = c
2
14.1 = c
Fox, Racquel Monday, December 16, 2013 6:12:23 PM Pacic Standard Time 70:56:81:a9:79:5d
1. a = 48, b = ?, c = 60
60
2
48
2
= b
2
3600 2304 = b
2
1296 = b
2
36 = b
2. a = ?, b = 38, c = 45
45
2
38
2
= a
2
2025 1444 = a
2
381 = a
2
24.1 = a
3. a = 15, b = ?, c = 25
25
2
15
2
= b
2
625 225 = b
2
400 = b
2
20 = b
4. a = ?, b = 72, c = 78
78
2
72
2
= a
2

6084 5184 = a
2
900 = a
2
30 = a
Pythagoras
Pythagorean Theorem
Pythagorus was born in 570 BC in
Samos, Rome. He is famous for his
career as a mathematician. He is very
well known for his Pythagorean
Theorem, although historians do not
know whether he accomplished it or
not. It is said that his accomplishments
were really those of his colleagues. The
reason for this is he wrote nothing
down, so there was no way to know
whether he wrote it or not. Many
mathematical discoveries were credited
to Pythagoras, including his well know
Pythagorean Theorem and many
discoveries in music, astronomy, and
medicine. He is responsible for many
insights in mathematics.
The Pythagorean Theorem is the way to
nd the hypotenuse of a right triangle.
Pythagoras learned that if you add up the
two legs like a
2
+ b
2
, it will equal c
2
. You
can also nd the converse of a right
triangle by subtracting the hypotenuse
by a leg to nd the other leg: c
2
b
2
= a
2
!
Finding Missing Legs
Missing Legs of the
Hypotenuse
21
2
+ 28
2
= c
2
441 + 784 = c
2

1225 = c
2
35 = c
5
2
+ 7
2
= c
2

25 + 49 = c
2
74 = c
2

8.6 = c
13
2
+ 13
2
= c
2

169 + 169 = c
2

338 = c
2
18.4 = c
17
2
+ 17
2
= c
2

289 + 289 = c
2

578 = c
2

24 = c
1.
2.
3.
4.
Fox, Racquel Monday, December 16, 2013 6:12:23 PM Pacic Standard Time 70:56:81:a9:79:5d