Distance and Displacement – Pythagorean Formula (for right triangles)

In a right triangle,

 the hypotenuse is the longest side,

 an "opposite" side is the one across from a given angle, and
 an "adjacent" side is next to a given angle.

Hypothenuse

Opposite side

Adjacent side

Pythagorean Theorem

Finding the Magnitude

Sample Problems
Ex 1: A car drives 5 miles east and 12 miles north. What is the total displacement of the car?
Solution: Distance = 12 mi + 5 mi = 17 miles
Displacement = a 2+b2= c2
5 2+122 = d2
25+144 = d2
169 = d2
√169 = √d2
13 miles = d

b) The initial point is A and the final point is F, hence the magnitude of the displacement is equal to the
distance AF which is calculated by applying Pythagoras’s theorem to the triangle AHF as shown in the
figure below

Applying the Pythagorean formula,

AF2 = AH2 + HF2
Substituting the formula, we get
AF2 = (0.5 X 4)2 + (0.5 X 3)2 = 6.25 km
AF = √6.25
AF = 2.5 km
The magnitude of displacement is 2.5 km.

Ex 3. Find the perimeter of a rectangle whose length is 150 m and the diagonal is 170 m.

Solution:
In a rectangle, each angle measures 90°.
Therefore, PSR is right angled at S
Using Pythagoras theorem,
PS2 + SR2 = PR2
PS  + 1502 = 1702
2

PS2 = 1702 – 1502

PS2= (170 + 150) (170 – 150), [using the
formula of a2 - b2 = (a + b) (a - b)]
PS2= 320 × 20

PS2 = 6400
PS = √6400
PS = 80
Therefore, perimeter of the rectangle PQRS = 2 (length + width)
                                                          = 2 (150 + 80) m
                                                          = 2 (230) m
                                                          = 460 m

Ex 4. A ladder 13 m long is placed on the ground in such a way

that it touches the top of a vertical wall 12 m high. Find the
distance of the foot of the ladder from the bottom of the wall.

Solution:
Let the required distance be x meters. Here, the ladder, the
wall and the ground from a right-angled triangle. The ladder is
the hypotenuse of that triangle.
According to Pythagorean Theorem,
x2 + 122 = 132
x2 = 132 – 122
x2 = (13 + 12) (13 – 12)
x2 = (25) (1)
x2 = 25
x = √25
 x = 5

Therefore, distance of the foot of the ladder from the bottom of the wall = 5 meters.

Ex 5. The height of two building is 34 m and 29 m respectively. If the distance between the two building
is 12 m, find the distance between their tops.

Solution:
The vertical buildings AB and CD are 34 m and 29 m respectively.
Draw DE ┴ AB
Then AE = AB – EB but EB = BC
Therefore, AE = 34 m - 29 m = 5 m
Now, AED is right angled triangle and right angled at E.
Therefore,
AD2 = AE2 + ED2
AD2 = 52 + 122
AD2 = 25 + 144
AD2 = 169
AD = √169
AD = 13 m
Therefore, the distance between their tops = 13 m.

Using Trigonometry to Determine a Vector's Direction

SOH CAH TOA is a mnemonic that helps one remember the meaning of the three common
trigonometric functions - sine, cosine, and tangent functions.
 The sine function relates the measure of an acute angle to the ratio of the length of the side
opposite the angle to the length of the hypotenuse.
 The cosine function relates the measure of an acute angle to the ratio of the length of the side
adjacent the angle to the length of the hypotenuse.
 The tangent function relates the measure of an angle to the ratio of the length of the side opposite
the angle to the length of the side adjacent to the angle.
The three equations below summarize these three functions in equation form.

Note: In finding the direction of the resultant – use the inverse tangent of the two perpendicular sides
of the triangle

Sample Problem
Ex 1. A hiker walks 11 km to the North and headed East by walking 11 km, too. What is the magnitude
and direction of the hiker’s displacement?

Ex 2. Compute for the direction of the displacement

 
The vector makes an angle of 206.6 degrees’ counter
clockwise from East or 26.6 degrees South West

Finding the Magnitude and Direction

Sample Problem
Ex 1. Vicky walks 8 km east, then 5 km south. What is her total displacement?

8 km E

Ꝋ? 5 km S

dR ?

c2 = 52 + 82 tan = opp/adj = 5km E / 8 km S

c = √ 25 + 64 = √89 = 0.62
= 9.43 km Ꝋ = tan-1 (0.62) = 32.01◦ South East or 302.01 degrees counter
clockwise from East

dR = 9.43 km, 32.01◦ South East or 9.43 km, 302.01◦ counter clockwise from East

Ex 2. d1 = 4m E; d2 = 3m N c2 = 42 + 32 tan = opp/adj = 3m N / 4m E
c = √ 16 + 9 = √25 = 0.75
=5m Ꝋ = tan-1 (0.62) = 36.87◦ North East
dR? 3m
Ꝋ?
dR = 5m, 36.87◦ North East
4m

Ex 3. A plane flying North at 100m/s is blown by a 500m/s strong wind due East . What is the plane’s
resultant velocity?
 500m/s
100m/s dR?

Ꝋ?

C2 = (100m/s)2 + (500m/s)2 tan = opp/adj = 100m/s N / 500m/s E

vR = 509.90 m/s = 0.2
Ꝋ = tan-1 (0.2) = 11.31◦ North East

vR = 509.90m/s, 11.31◦ North East

Adding three or more right angled vectors

Ex 1. d1 = 8 km E dR?
d2 = 5 km N 5 km N
d3 = 5 km E Ꝋ?
8 km 5 km

C 2 = (13 km)2 + (5 km)2 tan = opp/adj = 5 km N / 13 km E

C2 = 194 km2 = 0.38
C = √ 194 km2 = 14 km Ꝋ = tan-1 (0.38) = 21◦ North East

dR = 14 km, 21◦ North East

What to do with many vectors given

d1 = 4 km E E-W = (4 km E + 12 km E) - 6 km W
d2 = 8 km S = 10 km E
d3 = 5 km N
d4 = 6 km W N-S = 5km N – 8 km S
d5 = 12 km E = -3 km S

Ex 1 A student walks through the hallway, making the following movements:

d1 = 2m S; d2 = 48m W; d3 = 12m W; d4 = 3m N; d5 = 14m S

E-W = 48m W + 12m W = 60m W

N-S = (2m S + 14m S) - 3m N = 13m S

Ꝋ?
dR? 13m

60 m
C2 = (60m)2 + (13m)2 tan = opp/adj = 60m W / 13 km S
C2 = 3769 m2 = 4.62
C = √ 3769 m2 = 61 m Ꝋ = tan-1 (4.62) = 78◦ South West or 348 degrees
 counter clockwise from East

dR = 61m, 78◦ South West or 61m, 348 degrees counter clockwise from East

Tutorial Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akkV5XmzSzs&t=35s