Math 113

TRIGONOMETRY

Handout No. 1

Pythagorean Theorem

What is a right triangle?

It is a triangle which has an angle that is 90 ° .

The two sides that make up the right angle are called legs.

The side opposite the right angle is the hypotenuse.

The Pythagorean Theorem

In a right triangle, if a and b are the measures of the legs and c is the hypotenuse, then a 2+ b2=c 2

Note: The hypotenuse, c, is always the longest side.

Example:

1) Find the length of the hypotenuse of the triangle.

c
b=16

a=12
122 + 162 = c2

144 + 256 = c2

400 = c2

Take the square root of both sides.

20 = c

Therefore, the length of the hypotenuse of the triangle Is 20.

 2) What is the measure of the missing length:

Find the missing length of the following:

1)

Determine whether the triangle with the given side lengths is a right triangle by writing “yes” or

“no” in the blank.

4.) a = 6, b = 8, c = 10 ________ 5.) a = 14, b = 16, c =18 _________