Grade 9 Mathematics

Module 11 (3rd Quarter)

LESSON 14: Pythagorean Theorem

Learning Targets
At the end of the lesson, you will be able to
1. Prove the conditions for similarity triangles involving Special Right Triangle Theorems.
2. Apply the theorems to show that given triangles are similar.
3. Proves the Pythagorean Theorem.
4. Solves problems that involve triangle similarity and right triangles.

Explore
You just have finished with the different theorems on similar triangles and polygons. In this lesson you will be
dealing with theorems involving similarity theorems on special right triangles which are useful in analysis and solving
problem involving geometric designs and figures.

Activity 14.1: Exploring Right Triangles

Direction: Follow the instructions below and answer the follow up questions.
Materials: Rope/Sticks, Ruler and Cutter

1. Cut the rope or stick with the following lengths:

a. (3 cm, 4 cm, and 5 cm) b. (6 cm, 8 cm, and 10 cm) c. (15 cm, 20 cm, and 25cm)
2. Construct a triangle with the given group of side lengths.

Questions:
a. What did you notice on the triangles being constructed? Is it possible to make a triangles with the given side lengths?
b. If the given side lengths can construct a triangle, what kind of triangle is it?
c. What do you think is the relationship of square of the sum of two shorter sides to the square of the longest side?

Firm Up
There have been several studies and proofs that were made in Pythagorean Theorem. The theorem was named
after Pythagoras, a Greek philosopher and mathematician, who was the first to write a proof of the theorem based on the
sides of a right triangle.

Pythagorean Theorem
In a right triangle, the square of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares of the two
legs.

So if we have right ∆ABC, then the formula for Pythagorean Theorem is 𝒄𝟐 = 𝒂𝟐 + 𝒃𝟐 , where c is the hypotenuse and a
and b are legs.

1
 Grade 9 Mathematics
Module 11 (3rd Quarter)

Converse of the Pythagorean Theorem

If the square of the longest side of a triangle is equal to the sum of the square of the other
two sides, then the triangle is a right triangle.

Activity 14.2: Looking for the Third Side!

Consider the problems below:

Write an equation you could use to find the length of the missing side of each right triangle. Then find the missing length.
Round to the nearest tenth if necessary.

1.

The equation has two solutions, 15 and -15. However, the length of a side must be positive. So, the hypotenuse 15 inches
long.

2.

The length of side b is about 22.6 meters.

3. The measure of the three sides of a triangle are 5 inches, 12 inches, and 13 inches. Determine whether the triangle is a
right triangle.

2
 Grade 9 Mathematics
Module 11 (3rd Quarter)

Since both sides of the equation are equal, then the triangle is a right triangle.

4. Geo claims that the following sides of triangle 4m, 7m, 5m determine a right triangle. Justify if his claim is TRUE.

Since the sum of the squares of two sides is not equal to the square of the longest side, then the sides do not form a right
triangle. Therefore, Geo’s claim is NOT TRUE.

Activity 14.3: You’re Right!

The lengths of the three sides of a triangle are given. Determine whether the triangle is a right triangle. You can use the
converse of Pythagorean Theorem.

a. 5, 12, 13 b. 5, 8, 9 c. 15, 20, 25 d. √6, √10, 4

A. SPECIAL RIGHT TRIANGLES

There are right triangles that need to be studied because of their special features. These are the 45˚-45˚-90˚ and
30˚-60˚-90˚ triangles. How are these sides of these triangles related to each other?

Remember This!
An Isosceles right triangle is a 45˚- 45˚- 90˚ triangle. The Pythagorean Theorem gives a useful relationship among
the sides of an isosceles right triangle.
Theorem
In a 45˚- 45˚- 90˚ triangle, the hypotenuse is √2 times as long as each leg.

Corollary
A diagonal of a square is √2 times the length of its side.

There is also a special relationship among the sides of a 30˚- 60˚- 90˚ triangle. This is given in the next theorem.

Theorem
In a 30˚- 60˚- 90˚ triangle, the hypotenuse is twice as long as the shorter leg and the longer
leg is √3 times as long as the shorter leg.

Example 1: Find the length of each leg of an isosceles right triangle if the hypotenuse is 10 cm.
Solution:
Let 𝒙 be the length of each leg.
By Theorem, we have
ℎ𝑦𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑠𝑒 = √2 (𝑙𝑒𝑔)
10 = √2 𝑥
3
 Grade 9 Mathematics
Module 11 (3rd Quarter)
10
𝑥=
√2
10√2
𝑥= 2
𝒙 = 𝟓√𝟐 𝒄𝒎

Example 2: What is the length of the diagonal of the square whose side is 5 cm?
Solution: By Corollary, we have
𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑔𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 = √2 (𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒)
𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑔𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 = √2 (5 𝑐𝑚)
𝒅𝒊𝒂𝒈𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 = 𝟓√𝟐 𝒄𝒎

Example 3: ∆DEC is a 30˚-60˚-90˚ triangle, as shown. If DC = 12 cm, find CE and DE.

Solution: By Theorem,
ℎ𝑦𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑠𝑒 = 2(𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑙𝑒𝑔)
𝐷𝐶 = 2(𝐶𝐸)
12 = 2(𝐶𝐸)
𝑪𝑬 = 𝟔 𝒄𝒎

𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑟 𝑙𝑒𝑔 = √3 (𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑙𝑒𝑔)

𝐷𝐸 = √3 (𝐶𝐸)
𝐷𝐸 = √3 (6)
𝑫𝑬 = 𝟔√𝟑 𝒄𝒎

Deepen
Activity 14.4: We’re TRIO?
Description: In this activity you are to determine whether the given three numbers represent a Pythagorean triple.
Three numbers can be called a Pythagorean Triple if 𝑎2 + 𝑏2 = 𝑐 2 , where a, b, and c are positive integers.
Given a set of three numbers, show that these represent a Pythagorean Triple.
Directions: Fill in the table with the correct value and tell whether the set represents a Pythagorean Triple.

4
 Grade 9 Mathematics
Module 11 (3rd Quarter)

Transfer
Activity 14.5: Applications of Pythagorean Theorem
It is time to look forward at this situation where Pythagorean Theorem and Special Right Triangle Theorems can be
used to model real life problems. Read and solve the problems below. Show your solution.

You're locked out of your house and the only open window is on the second floor, 25 feet
above the ground. You need to borrow a ladder from one of your neighbors. There's a bush
along the edge of the house, so you'll have to place the ladder 10 feet from the house. What
length of ladder do you need to reach the window?