Practical Problems Pythagorean Theorem

The diagonal of a rectangle is 25 inches. The width is 15 inches. Which equation could be used to solve the problem?

Lisa drives her car 46 km south and then 13 km east. How far is she from her starting point? Which equation could be used to solve the problem?

If the two legs of a right triangle measure 8 inches and 12 inches, what is the length of the hypotenuse? Which equation could be used to solve the problem?

Jane and Miguel are siblings. They go to different schools. Jane walks 6 blocks east from home. Miguel walks 8 blocks north. How many blocks apart would the two schools be if you could walk straight from one school to the other? Which equation could be used to solve the problem?

A piece of paper that Brittany has is 11 inches tall and 8 inches wide. She draws a straight line diagonally across the paper. How long is the line she drew? Which equation could be used to solve the problem?

The hypotenuse of a right triangle is 12 feet and one of its legs is 3 feet. What is the length of the other leg? Which equation could be used to solve the problem?

What is the longest side of a right triangle called?

• Leg A

• Leg B

• Hypotenuse

• Pythagoras' Big Buddy

John leaves school to go home. He walks 6 blocks North and then 8 blocks west. How far is John from the school? Which equation could be used to solve the problem?

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?

Which diagram best represents the problem?

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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