The Pythagorean Theorem can be formulated as follows: in a right triangle, the square of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares of the legs.

In the right triangle shown in the image below, we use the first letters of the alphabet to indicate its sides:

a a and b b are the legs.

cc is the hypotenuse.

Using these, we can express the Pythagorean theorem in an algebraic form as follows:

c2=a2+b2 c²=a²+b²

How to solve the Pythagorean theorem

We can express the Pythagorean Theorem in a geometric form in the following way, showing that the area of the square (c c ) (square of the hypotenuse) is the sum of the areas of the squares (a a ) and (b b ) (squares of the legs).

geometrical form of the Pythagorean Theorem

Practice Pythagorean Theorem

Examples with solutions for Pythagorean Theorem

Exercise #1

Look at the triangle in the diagram. How long is side AB?

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Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

To find side AB, we will need to use the Pythagorean theorem.

The Pythagorean theorem allows us to find the third side of a right triangle, if we have the other two sides.

You can read all about the theorem here.

Pythagorean theorem:

A2+B2=C2 A^2+B^2=C^2

That is, one side squared plus the second side squared equals the third side squared.

We replace the existing data:

32+22=AB2 3^2+2^2=AB^2

9+4=AB2 9+4=AB^2

13=AB2 13=AB^2

We find the root:

13=AB \sqrt{13}=AB

Answer

13 \sqrt{13} cm

Exercise #2

Look at the triangle in the diagram. Calculate the length of side AC.

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Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve the exercise, we have to use the Pythagorean theorem:

A²+B²=C²

 

We replace the data we have:

3²+4²=C²

9+16=C²

25=C²

5=C

Answer

5 cm

Exercise #3

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What is the length of the hypotenuse?

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

We use the Pythagorean theorem

AC2+AB2=BC2 AC^2+AB^2=BC^2

We insert the known data:

32+42=BC2 3^2+4^2=BC^2

9+16=BC2 9+16=BC^2

25=BC2 25=BC^2

We extract the root:

25=BC \sqrt{25}=BC

5=BC 5=BC

Answer

5

Exercise #4

Look at the triangle in the diagram. How long is side BC?

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Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve the exercise, it is necessary to know the Pythagorean Theorem:

A²+B²=C²

We replace the known data:

2²+B²=7²

4+B²=49

We input into the formula:

B²=49-4

B²=45

We find the root

B=√45

This is the solution. However, we can simplify the root a bit more.

First, let's break it down into prime numbers:

B=√(9*5)

We use the property of roots in multiplication:

B=√9*√5

B=3√5

This is the solution!

Answer

35 3\sqrt{5} cm

Exercise #5

Given the triangle ABC, find the length BC

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Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

To answer this question, we must know the Pythagorean Theorem

The theorem allows us to calculate the sides of a right triangle.

We identify the sides:

ab = a = 5
bc = b = ?

ac = c = 13

 

We replace the data in the exercise:

5²+?² = 13²

We swap the sections

?²=13²-5²

?²=169-25

?²=144

?=12

Answer

12 cm

Exercise #6

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What is the length of the side marked X?

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

We use the Pythagorean theorem:

AB2+BC2=AC2 AB^2+BC^2=AC^2

Answer

15 15

Exercise #7

Look at the following triangle.

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What is the value of X?

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

It is important to remember: the Pythagorean theorem is only valid for right-angled triangles.

This triangle does not have a right angle, and therefore, the missing side cannot be calculated in this way.

Answer

Cannot be solved

Exercise #8

The triangle in the drawing is rectangular and isosceles.

Calculate the length of the legs of the triangle.

AAABBBCCC

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

We use the Pythagorean theorem as shown below:

AC2+BC2=AB2 AC^2+BC^2=AB^2

Since the triangles are isosceles, the theorem can be written as follows:

AC2+AC2=AB2 AC^2+AC^2=AB^2

We then insert the known data:

2AC2=(82)2=64×2 2AC^2=(8\sqrt{2})^2=64\times2

Finally we reduce the 2 and extract the root:

AC=64=8 AC=\sqrt{64}=8

BC=AC=8 BC=AC=8

Answer

8 cm

Exercise #9

AAABBBCCCDDD2524Calculate the perimeter of the rectangle ABCD.

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

Let's focus on triangle BCD in order to find side BC

We'll use the Pythagorean theorem and input the known data:

BC2+DC2=BD2 BC^2+DC^2=BD^2

BC2+242=252 BC^2+24^2=25^2

BC2=625576=49 BC^2=625-576=49

Let's take the square root:

BC=7 BC=7

Since in a rectangle, each pair of opposite sides are equal to each other, we can state that:

DC=AB=24 DC=AB=24

BC=AD=7 BC=AD=7

Now we can calculate the perimeter of the rectangle by adding all sides together:

24+7+24+7=14+48=62 24+7+24+7=14+48=62

Answer

62

Exercise #10

Look at the following rectangle:

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Calculate the perimeter of the rectangle ABCD.

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

Let's focus on triangle BCD in order to find side DC

We'll use the Pythagorean theorem and input the known data:

BC2+DC2=BD2 BC^2+DC^2=BD^2

62+DC2=102 6^2+DC^2=10^2

DC2=10036=64 DC^2=100-36=64

Let's take the square root:

DC=8 DC=8

Since in a rectangle each pair of opposite sides are equal to each other, we can state that:

DC=AB=8 DC=AB=8

BC=AD=6 BC=AD=6

Now we can calculate the perimeter of the rectangle by adding all sides together:

8+6+8+6=16+12=28 8+6+8+6=16+12=28

Answer

28

Exercise #11

Given the triangles in the drawing

What is the length of the side DB?

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Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

In this question, we will have to use the Pythagorean theorem twice.

A²+B²=C²

Let's start by finding side CB:

6²+CB²=(2√11)²

36+CB²=4*11

CB²=44-36

CB²=8

CB=√8

 

We will use the exact same way to find side DB:

2²+DB²=(√8)²

4+CB²=8

CB²=8-4

CB²=4

CB=√4=2

Answer

2 cm

Exercise #12

Look at the triangle in the figure.

What is its perimeter?

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Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

In order to find the perimeter of a triangle, we first need to find all of its sides.

Two sides have already been given leaving only one remaining side to find.

We can use the Pythagorean Theorem.
AB2+BC2=AC2 AB^2+BC^2=AC^2
We insert all of the known data:

AC2=72+32 AC^2=7^2+3^2
AC2=49+9=58 AC^2=49+9=58
We extract the square root:

AC=58 AC=\sqrt{58}
Now that we have all of the sides, we can add them up and thus find the perimeter:
58+7+3=58+10 \sqrt{58}+7+3=\sqrt{58}+10

Answer

10+58 10+\sqrt{58} cm

Exercise #13

The Egyptians decided to build another pyramid that looks like an isosceles triangle when viewed from the side.

Each side of the pyramid measures 150 m, while the base measures 120 m.

What is the height of the pyramid?

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Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

Since the height divides the base into two equal parts, each part will be called X

We begin by calculating X:120:2=60 120:2=60

We then are able to calculate the height of the pyramid using the Pythagorean theorem:

X2+H2=1502 X^2+H^2=150^2

We insert the corresponding data:

602+h2=1502 60^2+h^2=150^2

Finally we extract the root: h=1502602=225003600=18900 h=\sqrt{150^2-60^2}=\sqrt{22500-3600}=\sqrt{18900}

h=3021 h=30\sqrt{21}

Answer

3021 30\sqrt{21} m

Exercise #14

Look at the following rectangle:

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BC = 8

BD = 17

Calculate the area of the rectangle ABCD.

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

We will find side DC by using the Pythagorean theorem in triangle DBC:

BC2+CD2=BD2 BC^2+CD^2=BD^2

Let's substitute the known data:

82+CD2=172 8^2+CD^2=17^2

CD2=28964=225 CD^2=289-64=225

Let's take the square root:

CD=15 CD=15

Now we have the length and width of rectangle ABCD and we'll calculate the area:

15×8=120 15\times8=120

Answer

120

Exercise #15

ABCD is a rectangle.

AC = 13

AB = 12

Calculate the length of the side BC.

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

When writing the name of a polygon, the letters will always be in the order of the sides:

This is a rectangle ABCD:

This is a rectangle ABDC:

Always go in order, and always with the right corner to the one we just mentioned.

Answer

5