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.

Skill: Apply the Pythagorean Theorem

1) Find the measure of side c if a = 5 inches 2) Find the measure of side b if a = 2 inches
and b = 9 inches. Round to the nearest and c = 12 inches. Round to the nearest
tenth if necessary. tenth if 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.
 Finding the Hypotenuse Finding a Leg

or or

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 ______________________________.

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

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.

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 ____ = _______________________

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.
?
Directions: Find the missing length. Round to the nearest hundredth if necessary and show your
work.
1) Find the distance from point A to 2)
point C. (hint: find the distance from B to C 8 ft.
first.)

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

C
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
house. The bottom of the tree is 15 feet is 12 feet long. How far is the top of the
away from the house. The tree is 20 feet flagpole from the end of the shadow?
long. How 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 Cities B and C are the furthest apart. If cities
from the end of the ramp to the bottom of A and B are 14 miles apart and cities A and
the platform? C are 22 miles apart, how far apart are cities
B and C?

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

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?