3A

Pythagoras’ theorem

Finding the hypotenuse and shorter sides with Pythagoras' theorem, exact surd answers, and solving two-dimensional problems.

The theorem

Pythagoras' theorem
$$c^2 = a^2 + b^2$$

$c$ is the hypotenuse, the longest side, opposite the right angle.

Hypotenuse calculator

Drag P. Its x and y values are the two shorter sides of a right-angled triangle; the hypotenuse runs from the origin to P.

Example 1●

Find the hypotenuse of a right-angled triangle with sides $9$ and $12$.

$c^2 = 81 + 144 = 225$
$c = 15$
Example 2●●

A $5$ m ladder has its foot $1.4$ m from a wall. How high up the wall does it reach?

$h^2 = 5^2 - 1.4^2 = 25 - 1.96 = 23.04$
$h = 4.8$ m
Flashcards
Find the hypotenuse
Add the squares, then square root.
Find a shorter side
Subtract the squares, then square root.
Exact answer for sides $4$ and $7$
$\sqrt{65}$
Practice
  1. Find the hypotenuse for sides $9$ and $12$.

  2. A $5$ m ladder stands $1.4$ m from a wall. Height reached (m)?

  3. Hypotenuse $13$, one side $5$. Find the other side.

  4. Find the diagonal of an $8$ cm by $6$ cm rectangle.

  5. The exact hypotenuse for sides $4$ and $7$ is:

  6. A square has diagonal $\sqrt{128}$. Find its side length.

  7. Is a triangle with sides $7, 24, 25$ right-angled?

  8. Walk $5$ km east then $3$ km south. How far from the start (2 decimal places)?

More questions

New numbers every time. Keep going until you get five in a row.

Formula sheet