Finding Missing Side Lengths

Pythagorean Theorem: Missing sides

by Eric Rodriguez

How to Solve

1. Determine what side is missing.

2. Plug in what you know into the equation.

3. Simplify the equation.

4. Solve for the missing side.

5. If needed round to the nearest tenth!

Multiple Choice

What is the length of x?

• 5
• 7
• 8
• 25

Multiple Choice

Find the length of the missing side. 

• 25 cm
• 42 cm
• 52 cm
• 48 cm

Multiple Choice

Find the length of the missing side. 

• 17 cm
• 22 cm
• 15 cm
• 13 cm

Multiple Choice

Using the following image, what is the length of the missing hypotenuse?

• 23.5

• 23.3

• 23.2

• 23.4

Multiple Choice

Using the following image, what is the length of the missing side?

• 7.9

• 7.6

• 7.8

• 7.5

Multiple Choice

Using the following image, what is the length of the missing side?

• 5 in

• 3 in

• 6 in

• 4 in

Multiple Choice

Find the length of the missing side. 

• 20 in.
• 68 in.
• 16 in.
• 80 in.

Multiple Choice

Using the following image, what is the length of the missing side?

• 14.7

• 14.8

• 14.6

• 14.5

Word Problems

When solving word problems, it helps to draw a triangle and fill in the missing information.

Multiple Choice

A baseball "diamond" is actually a square with sides of 90 feet. If a runner tries to steal second base, how far must the catcher, at home plate, throw to get the runner "out"? (Distance across the diagonal)

• 180 feet

• 90 feet

• 13.4 feet

• 127.3 feet

Multiple Choice

The slide at the playground has a height of 6 feet. The base of the slide measured on the ground is 8 feet. What is the length of the slide?

• 8 feet

• 5.29 feet

• 10 feet

• 14 feet

Poll

How do you feel about applying and using the Pythagorean theorem?

• I am lost

• I think I get it

• I got it

• EASY PEASY