Pythagorean Theorem Project

This project will focus on finding the missing length of a side of a right triangle.

a c a + b = c
b
You will draw a diagram and solve each of the following five problems by using the Pythagorean Theorem. If you finish
with these problems please try the Challenge problem.
Your work must be drawn on the white paper provided to you.
Show all your work and circle all your inal answers. !ound all answers to the nearest tenths place.
"ave un and be creative when drawing your diagrams to illustrate the problems#
$$The diagrams will vary because students are encouraged to be creative with this project.$$
Problem %&
During the Eagles game De!ean "ac#son ran a straight route $% yards up the sideline before turning around and
catching a pass from &ichael 'ic#. Defender De(ngelo )all who started *% yards across the field from "ac#son
saw the play setup and ran hori+ontally toward the receiver. ,hat was the distance the defender had to run to get
to the spot where "ac#son caught the ball-
a
*
. b
*
/ c
*
*%
*
. $%
*
/ c
*
$%% . 01%% / c
*
c
*
/ *%%%
c / $$.2 yds
Problem '&
Two telephone poles are 3% feet apart and the poles are each 1% feet tall. ,hat is the distance from the base of
one pole to the top of the other pole 4in feet5-
a
*
. b
*
/ c
*
1%
*
. 3%
*
/ c
*
61%% . 70%% / c
*
c
*
/ 002%%
c / 0%7.* ft
Problem (&
( person 68 meters away from a building is loo#ing up at a bird that is sitting on the top of the building. If the
distance from that person to the bird is 30 meters how tall is the building-
a
*
. b
*
/ c
*
68
*
. b
*
/ 30
*
0**8 . b
*
/ 7*70
b
*
/ 2%81
b / 7$ m
Problem )&
You need to construct a ramp to roll a cart from your garage into the bac# of your father9s truc#. The truc# is 7
feet from the garage. The bac# of the truc# is 61 inches above the ground. )ow long does the ramp have to be
4in feet5- If you can only construct a ramp with length to the nearest foot how long would it be- E:plain.
a
*
. b
*
/ c
*
7
*
. *
*
/ c
*
1$ . $ / c
*
c
*
/ 17
c / 7.* ft
The ramp should be 3 feet long as opposed to 7 feet. If it is only feet it will not be long enough to put into the
bac# of the truc#. It is better to have an e:tra %.7 feet than not enough.
Problem *&
You are getting ready for the softball season when you find out that you will be playing catcher instead of
shortstop ( baseball diamond is a s;uare with sides of 3% feet. If a runner tries to steal second base how far must
the catcher at home plate throw to get the runner out- (lso e:plain why you thin# runners try to steal second
base more often than third 4<se mathematics to justify your answer5.
a
*
. b
*
/ c
*
3%
*
. 3%
*
/ c
*
70%% . 70%% / c
*
c
*
/ 01*%%
c / 0*2.6 ft
The distance from home plate to third base in only 3% feet which is 62.6 feet shorter.
+hallenge&
,hen the ancient Egyptians were building the great pyramids at =i+a they chec#ed each course or level of stones
to ma#e sure they were being laid s;uare by measuring the diagonals. If each course of stones has the length of
the s;uares reduced by * meters what is the reduction in length of each diagonal-
a
*
. b
*
/ c
*
0%
*
. 0%
*
/ c
*
0%% . 0%% / c
*
c
*
/ *%%
c / 0$.0 ft
a
*
. b
*
/ c
*
7
*
. 7
*
/ c
*
1$. 1$ / c
*
c
*
/ 0*7
c / 00.6 ft
The reduction in height will be *.7 feet.
To receive ull credit on this project you must&
,rite your name on the front of each piece of paper for each problem you turn in.
!olve all three problems and show all your wor#.
Draw a diagram for all five problems and clearly label each problem. 4Problem 0 Problem * etc.5
Circle your answer.
4, your answer is not a whole number you must round to the nearest tenth5
Complete each problem on its own page of paper.4unlined plain white typing paper5
>? C><@!E the mathematics must be done properly 4i.e. the drawing must done accurately the operations are correct
and the solution is true5.
A
(100-90%)
Shows complete
understanding
of the concept
All of the
bulleted points
above are
covered in the
poster
Your proect is outlined and
labeled neatl!
"
(#0-#9%)
Shows accurate
understanding
with minor
errors
$ost of the
bulleted points
above are
covered in the
poster
$ost of !our proect is
outlined and labeled neatl!
%
(&0-&9%)
Shows some
understanding
of the
mathematics'
Some of the
bulleted points
above are
covered in the
poster
Some of !our proect is
outlined and labeled neatl!
(
()ess than
&0%)
Shows no
understanding
of the concept'
*one of the
bulleted points
above are
covered in the
poster
*one of !our proect is
outlined and labeled neatl!