Example 1

Use the side lengths of the following triangle to test the Pythagorean Theorem.

The legs of the triangle above are 3 inches and 4 inches. The hypotenuse is 5
inches. So, using the Pythagorean Theorem, let’s make a=3,b=4, and c=5. We can
substitute these values into the formula for the Pythagorean Theorem to verify that the
relationship works:
a2+b232+429+1625=c2=52=25=25
Since both sides of the equation equal 25, the equation is true. Therefore, the
Pythagorean Theorem works on this right triangle.

Reading Check:

1. True or false: The Pythagorean Theorem works for all triangles.

2. True or false: The hypotenuse of a right triangle is the shortest side of the triangle.

3. What are 2 characteristics of thehypotenuse of a triangle?

1) 2)

4. In the triangle to the right,

Which side is a leg?________________________

Which side is the other leg?__________________

Which side is the hypotenuse?________________

Example 2

What is the length of  b in the triangle below?

Use the Pythagorean Theorem to find the length of the missing leg, b. Set up the
equation a2+b2=c2, letting a=6 and c=10:
a2+b262+b236+b2−36b2b2−−√bb = c2 = 102 = 100   −36 = 64 = 64−−√ = ±8 
= 8
In algebra you learned that x2−−√=±xbecause, for example, (5)2=(−5)2=25.
However, in this case (and in much of geometry), we are only interested in
the positive solution to b=64−−√ because geometric lengths are positive (having a
side with a negative length does not make sense.)
So in Example 2, we can disregard the solution b=−8 and our final answer
is b=8 inches.
In Example 2 above,

 The hypotenuse is side ____________, which is ____________ inches long.

 One leg is side ____________, which is ____________ inches long.

 The other leg is side ____________, which is ____________ inches long.

When using the Pythagorean Theorem and taking the square root of a number,

 We only care about the ___________________________ answer because lengths

cannot be negative.
Example 3

Find the length of the missing side in the triangle below.

Use the Pythagorean Theorem to set up an equation and solve for the missing side,
which in this problem is the hypotenuse.

Let a=5 and b=12. We do not know c:

a2+b252+12236+144169169−−−√13=c2=c2=c2=c2=c2−−√=c
So, the length of the missing side, the ______________________________, is 13
centimeters.

Reading Check:

Find the length of the missing side in the triangle below.