APPLYING THE lesson

PYTHAGOREAN THEOREM 3
Resource: 8th Unit 7, Lesson 3: Applying the Pythagorean Theorem
Suggested Class Time: 2 days
The Big Idea

This is a complete lesson and practice for proving the Pythagorean Theorem. Students will apply the
Pythagorean theorem to find missing side lengths in right triangles.

Standards
CCSS TEKS
• 8.G.B.7: Apply the Pythagorean Theorem to • 8.7(C): Use the Pythagorean Theorem and its
determine unknown side lengths in right triangles in converse to solve problems.
real-world and mathematical problems in two and
three dimensions.
Horizontal Planning

Pre-requisite Skills Current Skills Upcoming Skills

• Angle Relationships/Missing Angles • Pythagorean Theorem • Distance Formula
Common Misconceptions & Teaching Tips
• Students may have difficulty plugging in the correct dimensions in the correct location in the
formula. For example, the legs are sides A and B, and the hypotenuse is C, but students may use
the leg length for the hypotenuse or vice versa.
• If a dimension is missing, students may not understand how to interpret. For example, if 21 and 14
are given as side lengths and 21 is said to be the largest side, they may not know that they are
looking for another leg length.
• Sometimes the operations can get mixed up. A, B, and C all must be squared and A + B will
equal C. In addition, when working backwards, students may forget they must take the square
root of C.
Resources Included

• Two Warm-Ups
• Apply the Pythagorean Theorem Notes (2 pages)
• Apply the Pythagorean Theorem Practice Worksheets (2 worksheets) (can be used as homework
or classwork)
• Apply the Pythagorean Theorem in 2-D and 3-D Worksheet (can be used for homework or
classwork)
• Apply the Pythagorean Theorem Word Problems Worksheet (can be used as homework or
classwork)
• Two Exit Tickets
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Name________________________________________________________
Date _________________________________________________________ Warm up #1
Lesson 3: Applying the Pythagorean Theorem
Skill: Prove the Pythagorean Theorem
The measures of three sides of a triangle are 30 centimeters, 40 centimeters and 50 centimeters.
Determine if the triangle is a right triangle. Show all steps and your proof.

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Name________________________________________________________
Date _________________________________________________________ Warm up #2
Lesson 3: Applying the Pythagorean Theorem
Skill: Apply the Pythagorean Theorem
1) Find the measure of side c if a = 5 inches and 2) Find the measure of side b if a = 2 inches and
b = 9 inches. Round to the nearest tenth if c = 12 inches. Round to the nearest tenth if
necessary. necessary.

3) Find the measure of side a if c = 10 cm and 4) Find the measure of side c if a = 10 feet and
b = 8 cm. Round to the nearest tenth if b =12 feet. Round to the nearest tenth if
necessary. necessary.

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Name___________________________________________________ Date ____________________ notes
apply the Pythagorean theorem
Finding the Hypotenuse Finding a Leg

c2 − a2 = b2
a2 + b2 = c2 c2 − b2 = a2
or or

a +b
2 2 hypotenuse2 − leg 2

Guided Practice:
1. Given a right triangle, if side a = 4 inches and side b = 8 inches, what is the measurement of side c,
rounded to the nearest hundredth?

a) Step 1 – Determine whether you are missing a short side or the long side.

• The ______________________________ side is missing.

b) Step 2 – Substitute the given information into the formula.

a² + b² = c² = ______________________________

c) Step 3 – Solve for the missing variable.

d) To undo a square, use a ______________________________.

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apply the Pythagorean theorem notes
Guided Practice:
2. Given a right triangle, if side a = 3 inches and side c = 10 inches, what is the measurement of side b,
rounded to the nearest hundredth?

a) Step 1 – Determine whether you are missing a short side or the long side.

• The ______________________________ side is missing.

b) Step 2 – Substitute the given information into the formula.

a² + b² = c² = ______________________________

c) Step 3 – Solve for the missing variable.

12 ft.
3. Find the missing side length of the given triangle. 7 ft.

a) Step 1 – Determine whether you are missing a short side or the long side.

• The ______________________________ side is missing.

b) Step 2 – Substitute the given information into the formula.

a² + b² = c² = ______________________________

c) Step 3 – Solve for the missing variable.

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Name________________________________________________ Date _________________ PRACTICE
apply the Pythagorean theorem
For #1 – 4: Determine whether the side lengths represent a right triangle. Circle the correct answer.
Show your work on a separate sheet of paper.

1) a = 3, b = 4, c = 9 Yes No

2) a = 20, b = 21, c = 29 Yes No

3) a = 7, b = 14, c = 25 Yes No

4) a = 8, b = 15, c = 17 Yes No

For #5 – 12: Use the Pythagorean Theorem to determine the missing side length. Round to the nearest
tenth if necessary. Show your work on a separate sheet of paper.

5) a = 6 inches, c = 10 inches ____ = _______________________

6) a = 15 inches, b = 20 inches ____ = _______________________

7) a = 8 inches, b = 15 inches ____ = _______________________

8) b = 40 inches, c = 41 inches ____ = _______________________

9) a = 12 inches, c = 20 inches ____ = _______________________

10) a = 16 inches, c = 20 inches ____ = _______________________

11) b = 6 inches, c = 8 inches ____ = _______________________

12) a = 7 inches, b = 9 inches ____ = _______________________

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Name________________________________________________ Date _________________ PRACTICE
apply the Pythagorean theorem
Directions: Find the length of each missing side. Round to the nearest hundredth if necessary and show
your work.
1) 2)

5 cm 5 cm
?
14 ft.

13 ft.

3) ? 4)

? 45 cm
3 cm
8 cm

50 cm

5) 6)

? 45 in.
18 ft. 12 ft.

50 in.
?

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Name________________________________________________ Date _________________ PRACTICE
apply the Pythagorean theorem
Directions: Find the missing length. Round to the nearest hundredth if necessary and show your work.

1) Find the distance from point A to point 2)

C. (hint: find the distance from B to C first.) 8 ft.

A
?
14 ft.
5 cm
C
B 10 cm 10 ft.
5 cm

3) Find the length of segment EB. 4) If point C is in the center of the base of the
pyramid, find the length of line AC.
A
A
20 ft. C
20 ft.
10 cm

D B
E
B

20 ft. 20 ft.
5 cm 5 cm

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Name________________________________________________ Date _________________ PRACTICE
apply the Pythagorean theorem
Directions: Read each problem carefully. Round to the nearest hundredth if necessary and show your
work.
1) A tree is leaning up against the side of a 2) A 20-foot flagpole is casting a shadow that is
house. The bottom of the tree is 15 feet away 12 feet long. How far is the top of the flagpole
from the house. The tree is 20 feet long. How from the end of the shadow?
tall is the house?

3) A wheelchair ramp is 10 feet long. The ramp 4) Three cities form a right triangle on a map.
sits up on a 2-foot platform. How far is it from Cities B and C are the furthest apart. If cities A
the end of the ramp to the bottom of the and B are 14 miles apart and cities A and C
platform? are 22 miles apart, how far apart are cities B
and C?

5) Luke is building a bike ramp. The ramp is going 6) A palm tree casts a 14-foot shadow. The end
to be 3 feet tall on the high end and is 6 feet of the shadow is 22 feet from the top of the
long. How long is the base of the ramp? tree. How tall is the tree?

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Name______________________________________________________
Date _______________________________________________________ Exit ticket #1
Lesson 3: Applying the Pythagorean Theorem
Skill: Apply the Pythagorean Theorem
1) Find the missing side length. Round to the 2) Find the missing side length. Round to the
nearest tenth if necessary. nearest tenth if necessary.

x 2.5 ft.
20 cm
x

2.5 ft.
13 cm

3) Find the missing side length. Round to the 4) Find the missing side length. Round to the
nearest tenth if necessary. nearest tenth if necessary. x
12 in.

18.2 in.
11 in. 20 in.
x

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Name______________________________________________________
Date _______________________________________________________ Exit ticket #2
Lesson 3: Applying the Pythagorean Theorem
Skill: Prove the Pythagorean Theorem
1) The school, park and movie theater form a right triangle when shown on a map. The longest
distance is between the school and the park. If there are 3.4 miles between the school and the
movie theater and 5 miles between the park and the movie theater, how far is the school from
the park?

2) Andrew needs a ladder to hang holiday lights. His house is 24 feet tall, and he has a flower bed
that extends 4 feet out from the side of the house. How long of a ladder will he need to reach
the top and be out of the flower bed?

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