ACT Math : Right Triangles

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ACT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #11 :How To Find The Length Of The Hypotenuse Of A Right Triangle : Pythagorean Theorem

保罗离开他的家,由于北一个慢跑3英里d 4 miles due west. If Paul could walk a straight line from his current position back to his house, how far, in miles, is Paul from home?

Possible Answers:

√14

25

5

7

4

Correct answer:

5

Explanation:

By using the Pythagorean Theorem, we can solve for the distance “as the crow flies” from Paul to his home:

32+ 42=x2

9 + 16 =x2

25 =x2

5 =x

Example Question #63 :Geometry

Given a right triangle where the two legs have lengths of 3 and 4 respectively, what is the length of the hypotenuse?

Possible Answers:

3

4

25

5

9

Correct answer:

5

Explanation:

The hypotenuse can be found using Pythagorean Theorem, which is a2+ b2= c2, so we plug in a = 3 and b = 4 to get c.

c2=25, so c = 5

Example Question #64 :Geometry

Triangle

LengthAB= 4

LengthBC= 3

If a similar triangle has a hypotenuse length of 25, what are the lengths of its two legs?

Possible Answers:

15 and 25

5 and 25

15 and 20

3 and 4

20 and 25

Correct answer:

15 and 20

Explanation:

Similar triangles are in proportion.

Use Pythagorean Theorem to solve forAC:

Pythagorean Theorem:AB2+BC2=AC2

42+ 32=AC2

16 + 9 =AC2

25 =AC2

AC= 5

If the similar triangle's hypotenuse is 25, then the proportion of the sides isAC/25 or 5/25 or 1/5.

Two legs then are 5 times longer thanABorBC:

5 * (AB) = 5 * (4) = 20

5 * (BC) = 5 * (3) = 15

Example Question #65 :Geometry

If the base of a right triangle is 5 cm long and the height of the triangle is 7 cm longer than the base, what is the length of the third side of the triangle in cm?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Find the height of the triangle

Use the Pythagorean Theorem to solve for the length of the third side, or hypotenuse.

Example Question #21 :How To Find The Length Of The Hypotenuse Of A Right Triangle : Pythagorean Theorem

Screen_shot_2013-09-16_at_11.16.22_am

Given the right triangle in the diagram, what is the length of the hypotenuse?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To find the length of the hypotenuse use the Pythagorean Theorem:

Whereandare the legs of the triangle, andis the hypotenuse.

The hypotenuse is 10 inches long.

Example Question #41 :Triangles

Righttriangle

Triangle ABC is a right triangle. If the length of side A = 3 inches and C = 5 inches, what is the length of side B?

Possible Answers:

4 inches

6 inches

1/2 inches

1 inches

4.5 inches

Correct answer:

4 inches

Explanation:

Using the Pythagorean Theorem, we know that.

This gives:

Subtracting 9 from both sides of the equation gives:

inches

Righttriangle

Example Question #21 :How To Find The Length Of The Hypotenuse Of A Right Triangle : Pythagorean Theorem

Righttriangle

Triangle ABC is a right triangle. If the length of side A = 8 inches and B = 11 inches, find the length of the hypoteneuse (to the nearest tenth).

Possible Answers:

13.7 inches

184 inches

14.2 inches

185 inches

13.6 inches

Correct answer:

13.6 inches

Explanation:

Using the Pythagrean Theorem, we know that.

This tells us:

Taking the square root of both sides, we find thatinches

Example Question #69 :Geometry

Righttriangle

Given:

A = 6 feet

B = 9 feet

What is the length of the hypoteneuse of the triangle (to the nearest tenth)?

Possible Answers:

10.1 feet

10.6 feet

10.8 feet

10.2 feet

10.5 feet

Correct answer:

10.8 feet

Explanation:

Using the Pythagrean Theorem, we know that.

This tells us:

Taking the square root of both sides, we find that

Example Question #21 :How To Find The Length Of The Hypotenuse Of A Right Triangle : Pythagorean Theorem

Righttriangle

Given:

A = 2 miles

B = 3 miles

What is the length of the hypoteneuse of triangle ABC, to the nearest tenth?

Possible Answers:

3.7 miles

3.5 miles

3.4 miles

3.6 miles

3.2 miles

Correct answer:

3.6 miles

Explanation:

Using the Pythagrean Theorem, we know that.

This tells us:

Taking the square root of both sides, we find that

Example Question #71 :Geometry

Given that two sides of a right triangle measure 2 feet and 3 feet, respectively, with a hypoteneuse ofx, what is the perimeter of this right triangle (to the nearest tenth)?

Possible Answers:

8.6 feet

6.4 feet

18 feet

9.4 feet

3.6 feet

Correct answer:

8.6 feet

Explanation:

Using the Pythagrean Theorem, we know that.

This tells us:

Taking the square root of both sides, we find that

To find the perimeter, we add the side lengths together, which gives us that the perimeter is:

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