3L Using Pythagoras’ theorem 179

Exercise 3L
UNDERSTANDING AND FLUENCY 1–5 3, 4–5(½) 4–5(½)

1 Decide if these numbers written with a √ sign simplify to a whole number. Answer yes or no.
a √9 b √11 c √20 d √121
2 Round these surds correct to two decimal places, using a calculator.
a √10 b √26 c √65 d √230
3 Write Pythagoras’ theorem for each of the following triangles.
a b 7 c d
w 8 8 x
3
7
5 x 9 m 9.4

Example 25a 4 Find the length of the hypotenuse (c) of these right-angled triangles.
a b 24 c
c
c 9
3
7
c 40
4

d e f 60
36
c 16
c 11
c

12 27

Example 25b 5 Find the length of the hypotenuse (c) of these right-angled triangles, correct to two decimal places.
a 7 b 5 c
c
2 4
6 c
c
4
d e f 19
3 1
2.5
c c
c
32
3.5

PROBLEM-SOLVING AND REASONING 6, 7, 10 7–10 7–11

Example 26 6 A rectangular board is to be cut along one of its diagonals. The board is 3 m wide and 1 m high.
What will be the length of the cut, correct to the nearest cm?

1m

3m
Cambridge Maths NSW ISBN 978-1-108-46627-1 © Palmer et al. 2018 Cambridge University Press
Stage 4 Year 8 Second edition Photocopying is restricted under law and this material must not be transferred to another party.
180 Chapter 3 Measurement and Pythagoras’ theorem

7 The size of a television screen is determined by its diagonal length. Find the size of a television
screen that is 1.2 m wide and 70 cm high. Round the answer to the nearest cm.

8 Here is a diagram showing the path of a bushwalker from camp 1 to camp 2. Find the total
distance, calculated to one decimal place.
3 km 2 km
Camp 1
1.5 km

Camp 2

9 A 20 cm straw sits in a cylindrical glass, as shown. What length of straw sticks above the top of the
glass? Round the answer to two decimal places.

14 cm

4 cm

10 Explain the error in each set of working.

a c2 = 22 + 32 b c2 = 32 + 42 c c2 = 22 + 52
∴c=2+3 = 72 = 4 + 25
=5 = 49 = 29
∴c=7 = √29

11 Prove that these are not right-angled triangles.

a 5 b c 12
10
3 8
7 21
24
5

ENRICHMENT – – 12

Perimeter and Pythagoras

12 Find the perimeter of these shapes, correct to two decimal places.

a b 10 cm c

2m 18 cm 7 cm

4 cm
3m
d 6 mm e f

4 mm 5m

8 mm 2m

Cambridge Maths NSW ISBN 978-1-108-46627-1 © Palmer et al. 2018 Cambridge University Press
Stage 4 Year 8 Second edition Photocopying is restricted under law and this material must not be transferred to another party.
 3M Calculating the length of a shorter side 183

Example 27 3 Find the length of the unknown side in these right-angled triangles.
a b 12 c b
5
3 9
a 41
15
a

d e 30 f
b a b 11

17 34 61

4 Find the length of the unknown side in these right-angled triangles, giving the answer correct
to two decimal places.
a 2 b c
14
2 5 8

d e f
50

22 18
14
100

PROBLEM-SOLVING AND REASONING 5, 6, 9 5–7, 9, 10 6–8, 10, 11

Example 28 5 A yacht’s mast is supported by a 12 m cable attached to its top. On the deck of the yacht, the cable
is 8 m from the base of the mast. How tall is the mast? Round the answer to two decimal places.

12 m

8m
Deck

Cambridge Maths NSW ISBN 978-1-108-46627-1 © Palmer et al. 2018 Cambridge University Press
Stage 4 Year 8 Second edition Photocopying is restricted under law and this material must not be transferred to another party.
184 Chapter 3 Measurement and Pythagoras’ theorem

6 A circle’s diameter AC is 15 cm and the chord AB is 9 cm. Angle ABC is 90°. Find the length of
the chord BC.

C
15 cm

A
9 cm

7 A 14 cm drinking straw just fits into a can, as shown. The diameter of the can is 7 cm. Find the height
of the can, correct to two decimal places.
cm
14

7 cm

8 Find the length AB in this diagram. Round to two decimal places.

25 11

24 A B

9 Describe what is wrong with the second line of working in each step.
a a2 + 10 = 24
a2 = 34
b a = 25
2

=5
c a2 + 25 = 36
a2 + 5 = 6

10 The number √11 is an example of a surd that is written as an exact value. Find the surd that
describes the exact lengths of the unknown sides of these triangles.
a 5 b c 100

2
7 120

Cambridge Maths NSW ISBN 978-1-108-46627-1 © Palmer et al. 2018 Cambridge University Press
Stage 4 Year 8 Second edition Photocopying is restricted under law and this material must not be transferred to another party.
 3M Calculating the length of a shorter side 185

11 Show how Pythagoras’ theorem can be used to find the unknown length in these isosceles
triangles. Complete the solution for part a and then try the others. Round to two decimal places.
a a2 + b2 = c2
x2 + x2 = 52
x 5 2x2 = 25
x2 = ___
∴ x = √______
x
b x c x d 34

61 x
10 x

ENRICHMENT – – 12

Pythagorean families

12 (3, 4, 5) is called a Pythagorean triad because the numbers 3, 4 and 5 satisfy Pythagoras’
theorem (32 + 42 = 52) .
a Explain why (6, 8, 10) is also a Pythagorean triad.
b Explain why (6, 8, 10) is considered to be in the same family as (3, 4, 5) .
c List three other Pythagorean triads in the same family as (3, 4, 5) and (6, 8, 10) .
d Find another triad not in the same family as (3, 4, 5) , but which has all three numbers less
than 20.
e List five triads that are each the smallest triad of five different families.

3, 4, 5 is the best
known of an
infinite number of
Pythagorean triads.

Cambridge Maths NSW ISBN 978-1-108-46627-1 © Palmer et al. 2018 Cambridge University Press
Stage 4 Year 8 Second edition Photocopying is restricted under law and this material must not be transferred to another party.