Applications of the Pythagorean Theorem

Learning Objective(s)
Use the Pythagorean Theorem to solve real world problems.
Introduction

A Greek mathematician named Pythagoras discovered and proved an interesting

property about right triangles: the sum of the squares of both of the triangles legs, the
sides that form the right angle, is the same length as the square of the triangles
hypotenuse, the side opposite the right angle. Algebraically, the theorem is written as
a 2 b 2 c 2 . This Pythagorean Theorem has many applications in science, art,
engineering, and architecture.

This simple but powerful equation can help us gain confidence in manipulating numbers with
exponents. And because right triangles are so common, it will help us understand how useful it
is to be comfortable with exponential terms. The best partwe dont even have to speak Greek.
The Pythagorean Theorem
Pythagoras studied right triangles, and the relationships between the legs and the hypotenuse
of a right triangle, before proving his theory.

The Pythagorean Theorem

If a and b are the lengths of the legs of a right triangle and c is the length of the
hypotenuse, then the sum of the squares of the lengths of the legs is equal to the square
of the length of the hypotenuse.
2
2
2
This relationship is represented by the formula: a b c

This seems simple enough, but lets try it with an actual right triangle to see if it is true.

The theorem is true for this trianglethe sum of the squares of both legs is the same as the
square of the hypotenuse. And, in fact, it holds true for all right triangles (although, as you will
see, not all measurements end up being as clean as 3, 4, and 5).
Note that the Pythagorean Theorem cannot be used with just any old triangleit only works
with right triangles.
Finding the Length of the Hypotenuse
We can use the Pythagorean Theorem to find the length of the hypotenuse of a right triangle if
we know the length of the triangles two sides. Put another way, if we know the lengths of a and
b, we can find c.
Lets do it.

In the triangle above, we are given measures for legs a and b: 5 and 12, respectively. We can
use the Pythagorean Theorem to find a value for the length of c, the hypotenuse.
Example

Problem

Find c when a = 5 and b =12

a2 b2 c 2
(5) (12) c
2

25 144 c 2

169 c 2
169 c 2

Answer

Pythagorean Theorem
Substitute known values in for a and b.
Simplify
Combine like terms
Take the square root of both sides

13 c

Using the formula, we find that the

length of c, the hypotenuse, must be 13. (Although there are
two possible values for c that make
the equation work, 13 and -13, lengths must always be
positive, so we can ignore the negative value.)
2
2
2
For which of these triangles is (3) (3) r ?

A)

B)

C)

D)

<sh>A) Incorrect. This is not a right triangle, so you cannot use the Pythagorean
Theorem to find r. The correct answer is B.
B) Correct. The Pythagorean Theorem only applies to right triangles. Since this triangle
has a right angle, the sum of the squares of the other two sides can be used to find r.
C) Incorrect. This is not a right triangle, so you cannot use the Pythagorean Theorem to
find r. The correct answer is B.
D) Incorrect. This is not a right triangle, so you cannot use the Pythagorean Theorem to
find r. The correct answer is B. </sh>

Finding the Length of a Leg

We can also use the Pythagorean Theorem to find the length of a right triangles leg if we are
given measurements for the hypotenuse and the other leg. Consider the right triangle below:

To find the length of leg a, we can substitute the values for b and c into the formula and then use
some algebraic reasoning to find a.

Example
Problem

Find a when b = 6 and c = 7

a2 b2 c 2
a 2 (6) 2 (7) 2

a 2 36 49

2
a 36 36 49 36
a 2 13

a 13
Answer

A 3.61

Pythagorean Theorem
Substitute known values in for b and c.
Simplify
Isolate the a term

Take the square root of both sides

The
is
approximately 3.61

<obj>1</obj>Using the Pythagorean Theorem to Solve Real World Problems

The Pythagorean Theorem is one of the most useful formulas in mathematics because there are
so many applications of it in out in the world. For example, architects and engineers use this
formula extensively when building ramps:
The owners of a house want to convert a stairway leading from the ground to their back porch
into a ramp. The porch is 3 feet off the ground, and due to building regulations, the ramp must
start 12 feet away from the base of the porch. How long will the ramp be?
To solve a problem like this one, it often makes sense to draw a simple diagram showing the
legs and hypotenuse of the triangle.

Looking at the diagram, we can identify the legs and the hypotenuse of the triangle in the
problem we need to solve. We know that the triangle is a right triangle since the ground and the
raised portion of the porch are perpendicularthis means we can use the Pythagorean
Theorem to solve this problem. We are given the lengths of legs a and b, so we can use that
information to find the length of c, the hypotenuse.
Example
Problem

Find c when a = 3 and b =12

a2 b2 c 2
(3) (12) c
2

9 144 c 2

153 c 2
c2

153

Answer

Pythagorean Theorem
Substitute known values in for a and b.
Simplify
Combine like terms
Take the square root of both sides

=
12.37 c

The ramp will be just about 12.37 feet long.

Summary
The Pythagorean Theorem states that in any right triangle, the sum of the squares of the legs
2
2
2
equals the square of the hypotenuse. This Theorem is represented by the formula a b c .
If you know the lengths of any two sides of a right triangle, we can apply the Pythagorean
Theorem to find the length of the third side.

Hypotenuse

the side opposite the right angle in any right trianglethe

hypotenuse is the longest side in a right triangle

leg

in a right triangle, one of the two sides creating the right angle

Pythagoras

a Greek philosopher and mathematician who lived in the 6th

Century BC

Pythagorean Theorem
the formula used to relate the lengths of the sides in any right
triangle
right triangle

a triangle with one right angle