The Pythagorean

Theorem and its

converse

Presented By- Rahul Raj

 A tool for right
triangle problems only
When do I need to use
the Pythagorean
Theorem ?
When I know: length of 2 sides
And
Need to know: length of 3rd side
 What is the Pythagorean
Theorem?
2 2 2
a b c

Where a and b are legs and c is the hypotenuse

 Using a + b = c2 2 2

 Looking for length of  a2 + b2 = c2

the hypotenuse

 152 + 202 = c2
 225 + 400 = c2
 625 = c2
2
625  c
25  c
 Using a + b = c2 2 2

 Looking for length of  a2 + b2 = c2

A leg

 62 + b2 = 102
 36 + b2 = 100
 -36 -36
 b2 = 64
b=8
 Converse of
Pythagoras Theorem
Examples
 Question 1: The sides of a triangle are 5, 12 and 13. Check
whether the given triangle is a right triangle or not?

 Solution: Given,

 a=5
 b = 12
 c = 13
 By using the converse of Pythagorean Theorem,
 a2+b2 = c2

 Or
 c2 = a2+b2
 Substitute the given values in the above equation,
 132 = 52+122
 169 = 25 + 144
 169 = 169
 So, the given lengths are does not satisfy the above condition.

 Therefore, the given triangle is a right triangle.

 Applying the
Pythagorean Theorem
A 15 foot ladder leans up against a
building. The foot of the ladder is 5
feet from the base of the building.
How high up the wall, to the nearest
foot does the ladder reach?
Draw a picture:
 Solving the problem
 a2 + b2 = c2 Write formula
 x2 + 52 = 152 Substitute in
 x2 + 25 = 225 Solve for x
 - 25 -25
 x2 = 200

x  200
 x = 14.142135 Check: How am I
 to leave my answer?

The ladder reaches 14 feet up the wall.

Tim rode 8 miles due north, then 3 miles
due east. How far, to the nearest mile, is
Tim from where he started?

 Draw a picture:
 Solve the problem
a2 + b 2 = c 2
82 + 3 2 = c 2
64 + 9 = c2
73 = c2 Remember: How
73  c am I suppose to
C = 8.5440037
leave my answer?

Tim is 9 miles from where he started.

 Further Applications
The diagonals of a rhombus are 6
cm and 8 cm. What is the length
of each side of the rhombus?
Prior Knowledge: What properties does a rhombus have?

The diagonals of a rhombus: bisect each other

The diagonals of a rhombus: are perpendicular
The sides of a rhombus: are congruent