EXAMPLES OF USING PYTHAGORUS THEOREM

Pythagorus Theorem states that the square on the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the
squares on the other two sides

c (hypotenuse)

b
Always label the sides ,

c must be the hypotenuse (side opposite the right angle)

c = a

Always start your calculation by writing

When to use Pythagorus?

There must be a right angle in the triangle
You need to be given the length of 2 of the sides
You are not being asked to calculate an angle
Typical questions:
Finding the Hypotenuse
In a game two umpires stand on a pitch as shown.
10 m

U m p ire
N o t to s c a le

22 m

U m p ire

How far apart are the two umpires?

..................................... c = a
...c =

.............................................................. (1)

a b )

c =

........................................................... (1)

22 10 ) =

24.16 m

.................................... (1)

You would lose a mark if you didnt write the correct unit ( metres in this case)
(if the question doesnt say to what degree of accuracy, use common sense, i.e. if using metres,
2 decimal places gives the cm which is realistically measurable)
Finding one of the other sides

The diagram shows a right-angled triangle.

13 cm

5 cm

N o t d ra w n a c c u ra te ly

Calculate the length of the missing side

...................................... c = a
...b =

................................................................... (1)

c - a )

b =

........................................................... (1)

13 - 5 ) =

12 cm

.................................... (1)

Proving a triangle is right-angled

The sketch shows triangle ABC.
AB = 40 cm, AC = 41 cm and CB = 9 cm.
C

41 cm
A

N o t d raw n
a c c u ra te ly

9 cm
40 cm
B

By calculation, show that triangle ABC is a right angled triangle.

.....If triangle ABC has a right angle then c = a

41 = 40
..................................... c = 1681.............

........................................ (1)

9........................................

b = 1681 .

....................Therefore triangle ABC is a right angled triangle................................ (1)

if a

didn,t equal c then triangle ABC doesnt have a right angle

Name __________________________________ Sample Questions Pythagorus

(1)

1.
A

8 cm

11 cm

Diagram NOT accurately drawn

ABC is a right-angled triangle.

AB = 8 cm,

BC = 11 cm.

Calculate the length of AC.

Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures.

cm
(Total 3 marks)

2.
A

1 2 .6 c m

4 .7 c m

AC = 12.6 cm. BC = 4.7 cm.

Diagram NOT accurately drawn

Angle ABC = 90.

Calculate the length of AB.

Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures.

.. cm
(Total 3 marks)
reference: mymaths: Shape

3.

A support for a flagpole is attached at a height of 3 m and is fixed to the ground at a

distance of 1.2 m from the base.

N o t to s c a le
x

3 m

1 .2 m

Calculate the length of the support (marked x on the diagram).

..............................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................
Answer ............................................................. m
(3)

4.

The diagram shows a kite ABCD.

A

15cm

36cm
C

n o t d ra w n to s c a le

Calculate the length of AC.

Remember to state the units in your answer.
..
.

Answer .
(3)

5)
A
not to scale

30 cm
18 cm

13.5 cm

BDC is a straight line.

Use Pythagoras theorem
(a)

to calculate the length of AC,

..................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................. ..

(b)

(3)

to calculate the length of BD,

..................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
(3)

(c)

to show that angle BAC is a right angle.

..................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
(3)

ANSWERS
Significant Figures:

Pythagorus

If asked to give your answer to 3 s.f.

(3 significant figures)

you count 3 in from the digit with the largest place value e.g.
2447386 , the digit with the largest (most significant value) is 2447386 because it represents 2 tens
So 2447386 written to 3 s.f .

2447386 is 245 (the 4 is rounded up to 5 as the digit after it is 7

1) c = a + b

2) c = a + b

c = (a + b)

[1]

a = (c - b)

[1]

AC= (8 +11)

[1]

AB = (126 - 47)

[1]

x = 136

[1]

BD = 117cm

[1]

3) c = a + b

4) c = a + b

c = (a + b)

[1]

c = (a + b)

[1]

x = (12 +3)

[1]

AC = (15 +36)

[1]

x = 323

[1]

AC = 39 cm

[1]

(lose a mark if cm not written)

5) a) c = a + b
c = (a + b)

b) c = a + b
[1]

AC = (18 +135)
AC = 225cm

[1]
[1]

a = (c - b)
BD = (30 - 18)
BD = 24 cm

c) If ABC is a right angle then

[1]
[1]
[1]

(lose a mark if cm not written) (lose a mark if cm not written)

If wondering what to round to,
if answer is in cm, usually to 1 d.p. (mm)
if in metres, to 2 d.p. (cm)
if in Km, to 3 d.p. (metres)
i.e. to the next smallest unit of measurement

AB + AC = BC

[1]

30 + 225 = 375
140625 = 140625 [1]
Therefore BAC is a right angle
[1]