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4.5 Pythagoras' Theorem: Hypotenuse

This document explains Pythagoras' theorem, which relates the lengths of the sides of a right-angled triangle. It states that in any right-angled triangle, the square of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides. Examples are provided to demonstrate using the theorem to calculate missing side lengths. Finally, exercises are given for the reader to practice applying Pythagoras' theorem.

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Michael Okwara
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100 views

4.5 Pythagoras' Theorem: Hypotenuse

This document explains Pythagoras' theorem, which relates the lengths of the sides of a right-angled triangle. It states that in any right-angled triangle, the square of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides. Examples are provided to demonstrate using the theorem to calculate missing side lengths. Finally, exercises are given for the reader to practice applying Pythagoras' theorem.

Uploaded by

Michael Okwara
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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4.5


Pythagoras’ theorem
Introduction
Pythagoras’ theorem relates the lengths of the sides of a right-angled triangle. This leaflet
reminds you of the theorem and provides some revision examples and exercises.

1. Pythagoras’ theorem
Study the right-angled triangle shown.

c
b hypotenuse

C B
a

In any right-angled triangle, ABC, the side opposite the right-angle is called the hypotenuse.
Here we use the convention that the side opposite angle A is labelled a. The side opposite B is
labelled b and the side opposite C is labelled c.
Pythagoras’ theorem states that the square of the hypotenuse, (c2 ), is equal to the sum of
the squares of the other two sides, (a2 + b2 ).

Pythagoras’ theorem: c2 = a2 + b2

Example

c
9

C B
5

Suppose AC = 9cm and BC = 5cm as shown. Find the length of the hypotenuse, AB.

www.mathcentre.ac.uk 4.5.1
c Pearson Education Ltd 2000
Solution
Here, a = BC = 5, and b = AC = 9. Using the theorem

c2 = a2 + b2
= 52 + 92
= 25 + 81
= 106
√
c = 106 = 10.30 (2dp.)

The hypotenuse has length 10.30cm.

Example
In triangle ABC shown, suppose that the length of the hypotenuse is 14cm and that a = BC =
3cm. Find the length of AC.
A

b 14

C 3 B

Solution
Here a = BC = 3, and c = AB = 14. Using the theorem

c2 = a2 + b2
142 = 32 + b2
196 = 9 + b2
b2 = 196 − 9
= 187
√
b = 187 = 13.67 (2dp.)

The length of AC is 13.67cm.

Exercises
1. In triangle ABC in which C = 90◦ , AB = 25 cm and AC = 17 cm. Find the length BC.
2. In triangle ABC, the angle at B is the right-angle. If AB = BC = 5 cm find AC.
3. In triangle CDE the right-angle is E. If CD = 55cm and DE = 37cm find EC.

Answers
1. 18.33 cm. (2dp.)
√
2. AC = 50 = 7.07 cm. (2dp.)
√
3. EC = 1656 = 40.69 cm. (2dp.)

www.mathcentre.ac.uk 4.5.2
c Pearson Education Ltd 2000

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