High School Math : Right Triangles

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for High School Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 :How To Find The Length Of The Side Of A Right Triangle

A right triangle has one side equal to 5 and its hypotenuse equal to 14. Its third side is equal to:

Possible Answers:

12

171

9

13.07

14.87

Correct answer:

13.07

Explanation:

The Pythagorean Theorem gives usa2+b2=c2for a right triangle, wherecis the hypotenuse andaandbare the smaller sides. Hereais equal to 5 andcis equal to 14, sob2= 142– 52= 171. Thereforebis equal to the square root of 171 or approximately 13.07.

Example Question #9 :How To Find The Length Of The Side Of A Right Triangle

Which of the following could NOT be the lengths of the sides of a right triangle?

Possible Answers:

12, 16, 20

5, 7, 10

5, 12, 13

8, 15, 17

14, 48, 50

Correct answer:

5, 7, 10

Explanation:

We use the Pythagorean Theorem and we calculate that 25 + 49 is not equal to 100.
All of the other answer choices observe the theorema2+b2=c2

Example Question #2 :How To Find The Length Of The Side Of A Right Triangle

Which set of sides could make a right triangle?

Possible Answers:

4, 6, 9

6, 7, 8

10, 12, 16

9, 12, 15

Correct answer:

9, 12, 15

Explanation:

By virtue of the Pythagorean Theorem, in a right triangle the sum of the squares of the smaller two sides equals the square of the largest side. Only 9, 12, and 15 fit this rule.

Example Question #1 :How To Find The Length Of The Side Of A Right Triangle

A right triangle with a base of 12 and hypotenuse of 15 is shown below. Find x.

Screen_shot_2013-03-18_at_10.29.39_pm

Possible Answers:

5

5.5

4

4.5

3.5

Correct answer:

4

Explanation:

Using the Pythagorean Theorem, the height of the right triangle is found to be = √(〖15〗2–〖12〗2) = 9, so x=9 – 5=4

Example Question #2 :How To Find The Length Of The Side Of A Right Triangle

A right triangle has sides of 36 and 39(hypotenuse). Find the length of the third side

Possible Answers:

33√2

42

15

12 √6

33

Correct answer:

15

Explanation:

use the pythagorean theorem:

a2+ b2= c2; a and b are sides, c is the hypotenuse

a2+ 1296 = 1521

a2= 225

a = 15

Example Question #3 :How To Find The Length Of The Side Of A Right Triangle

Bob the Helicopter is at 30,000 ft. above sea level, and as viewed on a map his airport is 40,000 ft. away. If Bob travels in a straight line to his airport at 250 feet per second, how many minutes will it take him to arrive?

Possible Answers:

1 hour and 45 minutes

2 hours and 30 minutes

3 minutes and 50 seconds

3 minutes and 20 seconds

4 hours and 0 minutes

Correct answer:

3 minutes and 20 seconds

Explanation:

Draw a right triangle with a height of 30,000 ft. and a base of 40,000 ft. The hypotenuse, or distance travelled, is then 50,000ft using the Pythagorean Theorem. Then dividing distance by speed will give us time, which is 200 seconds, or 3 minutes and 20 seconds.

Example Question #4 :How To Find The Length Of The Side Of A Right Triangle

A right triangle has two sides, 9 andx, and a hypotenuse of 15. What isx?

Possible Answers:

12

11

10

14

13

Correct answer:

12

Explanation:

We can use the Pythagorean Theorem to solve forx.

92+x2= 152

81 +x2= 225

x2= 144

x= 12

Example Question #5 :How To Find The Length Of The Side Of A Right Triangle

The area of a right traingle is 42. One of the legs has a length of 12. What is the length of the other leg?

Possible Answers:

11

9

6

5

7

Correct answer:

7

Explanation:

Area= \frac{1}{2}\times base\times height

42=\frac{1}{2}\times base\times 12

42=6\times base

base=7

Example Question #141 :Plane Geometry

Triangle

Ifand, what is the length of?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

AB is the leg adjacent to Angle A and BC is the leg opposite Angle A.

Since we have atriangle, the opposites sides of those angles will be in the ratio.

Here, we know the side opposite the sixty degree angle. Thus, we can set that value equal to.

which also means

Example Question #6 :How To Find The Length Of The Side Of A Right Triangle

Solve forx.

Possible Answers:

2

7

12

6

Correct answer:

6

Explanation:

Use the Pythagorean Theorem. Leta= 8 andc= 10 (because it is the hypotenuse)

\small a^2+x^2=c^2

\small 8^2+x^2=10^2

\small 64+x^2=100

\small x^2=100-64=36

\small x=6

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