Pythagorean Theorem Word Problems

Casey travels from her house directly west to the bank and then directly north from the bank to the mall. She then travels home on the road connecting the mall and her house. What is her total distance traveled?

• 17 miles

• 32 miles

• 37 miles

• 40 miles

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

The bottom of a 13-foot straight ladder is set into the ground 5 feet away from a wall. When the top of the ladder is leaned against the wall, what is the distance above the ground it will reach?

• 12 feet

• 13.9 feet

You need a ladder that will reach up a 25 foot tall house when placed 10 feet away from the house. How tall does the ladder need to be?

• 25 feet

• 26 feet

• 27 feet

• 28 feet

Find the missing length.

• 12

• 10

• 16

• 5

Larry attached a string from the top of the flagpole to the ground.  The flagpole is 26 feet high and the string is 18 feet away from the flagpole.  How long is the string? 

• 352 feet 

• 31.6 feet 

• 44 feet 

• 6.6 feet 

What are some keywords or phrases in a word problem that tell you to use the pythagorean theorem? Check all that apply.

• Order the real numbers from least to greatest

• A rectangle with a diagonal

• A ladder leaning against a wall

• Find the corresponding angles

• When you are asked to find the distance

Find the missing length indicated. Leave your answer in simplest radical form.

• 64

• 12

• 9

• 100

_{^{Find the missing side}}

• 48

• 108

• 83.6

• 72

You need a ladder that will reach the top of a 25 foot house when placed 10 feet away from the house.  How tall does the ladder need to be?

• 25 feet

• 28 feet

• 26 feet

• 27 feet