Pythagorean Theorem Missing Sides

Pythagorean Theorem

Use Pythagoras' theorem to find unknown sides of right-angled triangles

The Sides of a Triangle

The shorter sides of the triangle are always the legs.

The longest length of a triangle is always the hypotenuse.

Multiple Choice

The Pythagorean Theorem ONLY works on which triangle? 

• obtuse

• scalene

• isosceles

• right

Multiple Choice

Side c on a right triangle is ALWAYS the longest.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

Which side is the hypotenuse?

• 9

• x

• 14

Multiple Choice

Which sides are the legs of the triangle?

• 9 and 15

• 9 and 12

• 12 and 15

• 15

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!

Pythagorean Theorem

Multiple Choice

Which equation can be used to solve for "x"?

• 15² – x² = 21²

• x² – 15² = 21²

• 15² + 21² = x²

• 21² – 15² = x²

Multiple Choice

Determine the length of the missing side.

• 7

• 8

• 17

• 23

Multiple Choice

_{^{Find the missing side}}

• 9
• 41
• 6.4
• 3

Multiple Choice

Find h

• 35.60
• 35.00
• 35.71
• 61.03

Multiple Choice

Find the value of x.

• 7
• 8
• 9
• 10

Multiple Choice

solve for c

• 7
• 9
• 4
• 13

Word Problems

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

Multiple Choice

Lisa drives her car 46 km south and then 13 km east. How far is she from her starting point?

• 44.1 km

• 59 km

• 47.8 km

• 33 km

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