Heinemann Maths Zone 9

03HMZVELS9EN_intro Page 112 Monday, June 30, 2008 11:06 AM
he name Pythagoras is attached to the

most famous mathematical theorem of all
time. Pythagoras Theorem has had more
published proofs than any other theorem in
mathematics, and Pythagoras ideas have
influenced human thought in music,
philosophy, religion and geometry. Yet we
dont have a single document that contains
anything that he wrote. His followers were
sworn to secrecy, so we cant be certain about
any of his discoveries. We dont even know for
sure that Pythagoras deserves to have his
name associated with the worlds most
famous theorem. Researchers have shown that
Pythagoras Theorem was understood by the
ancient Babylonians centuries before
Pythagoras was born. Was he, at least, the
first to prove it? Maybe. We cant be certain.
Can you find the man of mystery in Raphaels
famous painting, School of Athens?
Starter 3
113
Prepare for this chapter by attempting the following questions. If you have
difficulty with a question, click on its Replay Worksheet icon on your Student
DVD or ask your teacher for the Replay Worksheet.
Worksheet R3.1
1 State whether the following triangles are equilateral, scalene or isosceles.

(a)
(b)
(c)
Worksheet R3.2
2 Round each of the following numbers to two decimal places.

(a) 45.789
(b) 12.2311
(c) 4.549 567 835 6
Worksheet R3.3
3 Use your calculator to find the following, correct to two decimal places
where appropriate.
(a) 122
(b) 552
(c) 37.52
Worksheet R3.4
4 Use your calculator to find the exact values of each of the following.
81
169
256
(a)
(b)
(c)
Worksheet R3.5
5 Use your calculator to find the following, correct to two decimal places
where appropriate.
65
658
321.45
(a)
(b)
(c)
Worksheet R3.6
6 Solve the following equations.

(a) x + 5 = 11
(b) 144 + x = 225
Worksheet R3.7
7 Solve the following equations. Where necessary, express your answer as a

decimal correct to two decimal places.
(b) x2 = 39
(c) c2 = 325
(a) x2 = 36
hypotenuse
irrational number
Pythagoras
114
(c) 45 x = 12
Pythagoras Theorem
Pythagorean triad
rational approximation
HEINEMANN MATHS ZONE 9
right-angled triangle
surds
03HMZVELS9EN_text Page 115 Monday, June 30, 2008 11:07 AM
A triangle which contains a 90 angle, known as a right angle, is

called a right-angled triangle. The longest side of a right-angled
triangle, which is opposite the right angle, is called the
hypotenuse.
When labelling triangles, we use capital letters for the corners
or vertices and lower case letters for the side lengths.
So triangle ABC, which can be written as ABC, has vertices A,
B and C with sides a, b and c opposite the corresponding vertices.
It is usual to label the hypotenuse as side c.
worked example 1
Measure the angles and determine whether each of the following triangles is a right-angled
triangle. If the triangle is right-angled, measure the lengths, in mm, of the hypotenuse and
the other two sides.
(a)
(b)
23 mm
15 mm
Steps
(a) 1. Measure the three angles in the triangles with a
protractor.
2. Decide whether the triangle is right-angled.
(b) 1. Measure the three angles in the triangles.
2. Decide whether the triangle is right-angled.
3. If the triangle is right-angled, measure the
lengths of the hypotenuse and the other two
sides.
Solutions
(a) The angles are 40, 110
and 30.
It is not a right-angled triangle.
(b) The angles are 90, 50 and
40.
It is a right-angled triangle.
The length of the hypotenuse is
25 mm. The lengths of the
other two sides are 15 mm and
20 mm.
The Theorem of Pythagoras

One of the leading mathematics scholars in ancient Greece was Pythagoras of
Samos (580496 BC). It is said that Pythagoras discovered the theorem that
bears his name by looking at the pattern of square floor tiles.
3 py t hagoras
THEOREM
115
Pythagoras Theorem states that, for

any right-angled triangle, the square
of the length of the hypotenuse will be
equal to the sum of the squares of the
lengths of the two shorter sides.
That is: c2 = a2 + b2
c2 = a2 + b2
c
hypotenuse
For example, consider the right-angled triangle of

sides 3 cm, 4 cm, and 5 cm for the hypotenuse.
Here, a = 3, b = 4 and c = 5.
Now c2 = 52 = 25 and
a2 + b2 = 32 + 42
= 9 + 16 = 25
2
Thus c = a2 + b2 holds for this triangle; that is, the
square on the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the
squares on the two shorter sides.
a2
25 cm 2
c2
9 cm 2 3 5
4
a c
b
16 cm 2 4
b2
worked example 2
Use a ruler to carefully measure the lengths, in millimetres, of the unknown sides of the
following triangles and determine whether Pythagoras Theorem holds for each triangle.
Hint: You may need to allow for some measurement error.
(a)
(b)
30 mm
30 mm
Steps
(a) 1. Measure each side.
Solutions
(a) Lengths: 30 mm, 40 mm,
50 mm
2. Determine which is the longest side, and call it

c. Let the other sides be a and b.
3. Check if these values satisfy Pythagoras
Theorem.
4. State conclusions.
(b) 1. Measure each side.
2. Determine which is the longest side, and call it
c. Let the other sides be a and b.
116
HEINEMANN MATHS ZONE
Let c = 50
a = 30, b = 40
c2 = 502 = 2500
a2 + b2 = 302 + 402
= 900 + 1600
= 2500
Since c2 = a2 + b2,
Pythagoras Theorem applies.
(b) Lengths: 30 mm, 45 mm,
60 mm
Let c = 60
a = 30, b = 45
3. Check if these values satisfy Pythagoras

Theorem.
c2 = 602 = 3600
a2 + b2 = 302 + 452
= 900 + 2025
= 2925
4. State conclusions.
Since c2 a2 + b2,
Pythagoras Theorem doesnt
apply.
If you are given the lengths of the sides of a triangle you can test them with
Pythagoras Theorem.
If Pythagoras Theorem works, then the triangle must be a

right-angled triangle.
exercise 3.1
Pythagoras Theorem and

right-angled triangles
Skills
1 Measure the angles and determine whether each of the following triangles
is a right-angled triangle.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(g)
(e)
(h)
Worked Example 1
Hint
(f)
(i)
3 py t hagoras
THEOREM
117
2 (a) For each of the triangles you identified as right-angled in Question 1,

measure the lengths, in millimetres, of the unknown sides. Then copy
the table below and complete it for each triangle. Let c be the
hypotenuse of the triangle; it doesnt matter which of the other sides
you call a and b. Hint: You may need to allow for some measurement
error.
a
Triangle
a2
b2
Worked Example 1
c2
(b) Can you see a relationship between a2, b2 and c2 for these rightangled triangles?
3 For each of the following triangles select the correct statement of
Pythagoras Theorem from those provided.
(a)
A a2 + b2 = c2
b
B a 2 + c2 = b 2
C b2 + c 2 = a 2
c
D a2 + b2 + c2 = 0
a
E b+c=a
(b)
q
r
(c)
z
y
x
(d)
m
n
p
A
B
C
D
E
p 2 = q 2 + r2
q 2 = p 2 + r2
r2 = p2 + q2
p 2 + q 2 = r2
p = q 2 + r2
A
B
C
D
E
z2 + y2 = x2
x2 + z2 = y2
x2 y2 = z2
z2 = x2 + y2
x2 z2 = y2
A
B
C
D
E
p2 = m 2 n 2
n2 + p2 = m2
p2 + m2 = n2
n2 m2 = p2
n2 + m2 = p2
4 Use a ruler to carefully measure the lengths, in millimetres, of the sides of e

the following triangles and determine whether Pythagoras Theorem holds
for each triangle. Hint: You may need to allow for some measurement error.
118
Worksheet C3.1
Worked Example 2
(a)
(b)
(d)
(c)
(e)
(g)
Hint
Worksheet C3.2
Hint
Hint
(f)
(h)
(i)
Applications
5 Test to see whether triangles with the following side lengths are
right-angled triangles.
(a) 9 mm, 12 mm, 15 mm
(b) 2 cm, 4 cm, 6 cm
(c) 2 m, 2 m, 4 m
(d) 7 km, 24 km, 25 km
(e) 6 m, 8 m, 10 m
(f) 18 mm, 24 mm, 30 mm
(g) 5 cm, 12 cm, 13 cm
(h) 11 mm, 60 mm, 61 mm
(i) 16 m, 30 m, 34 m
(j) 12 cm, 19 cm, 23 cm
(k) 8 m, 15 m, 17 m
(l) 6 mm, 7 mm, 8 mm
Analysis
6 For each of the following, construct right-angled triangles to scale, and

then complete the table after finding the length of the hypotenuse, c, by
measurement. What is the relationship between a2, b2 and c2?
a
(a)
3 cm
4 cm
(b)
12 cm
16 cm
(c)
60 mm 80 mm
(d)
(e)
7 cm
a2
b2
c2
relationship
24 cm
24 mm 90 mm
3 py t hagoras
THEOREM
119
77 Carefully draw four more right-angled triangles, measure the three side
lengths and verify that these triangles satisfy Pythagoras Theorem
(allowing for some errors of measurement).
Proofs of Pythagoras Theorem

Pythagoras Theorem has fascinated
mathematicians for hundreds of years.
They have developed many proofs,
which use combinations of geometry
and algebra. You will look at two of
these geometric proofs. You will need
graph paper, scissors, a ruler and
pencils.
It's a great theorem Pythagoras,

but everyone will laugh if you
call it the hypotenuse.
Proof number 1
Follow these steps to re-create one proof of Pythagoras Theorem.

(a) Draw a right-angled triangle with sides of length
b
a, b and c. It may be convenient to let a = 8 cm,
b = 6 cm and c = 10 cm.
(b) Construct a large square using two small squares
of side length a and b and four right-angled
triangles of side lengths a, b and c (and area 1--2- ab).
What is the area of the large square, which has
sides of length (a + b) units?
Note: (a + b) (a + b) = a (a + b) + b (a + b)
c
a
b
a
a2
b
b2
120
(c) Rearrange the triangles as shown. Remember the

hypotenuse is length c. What is the area of the square
surrounded by the four triangles?
The large square still has sides (a + b) units long,
so it has the same area as the previous large square.
Write an expression for the area of the large
square as the sum of the areas of the four triangles
plus the area of the square. Simplify if possible.
a
b
c2
c
(d) The areas of the squares from parts (b) and (c) are equal. Write this as an equation and
see if you can simplify this expression to obtain Pythagoras Theorem, c2 = a2 + b2.
Proof number 2: Perigals proof
Follow these steps to re-create Perigals proof of Pythagoras Theorem.

(a) Draw any right-angled triangle and
construct a square on each side.
Label the squares A, B and C as
P
shown.
R
(b) Divide the middle-sized square B
with a line through its centre. Make square B
PQ parallel to the hypotenuse (the
S
longest side of the right-angled
Q
triangle). Draw RS perpendicular to
PQ.
square C
square A
(c) Cut the middle-sized square B into the four

pieces marked. Also cut out the smallest
square, A, and the largest square, C.
(d) Rearrange square A and the four parts of
square B to make a larger square. Measure the
sides of this larger square and compare with
square C. What do you notice?
(e) Explain how this demonstrates Pythagoras
Theorem.
3 py t hagoras
THEOREM
121
When using Pythagoras Theorem we are dealing with squares and square
roots. Is it possible for all three numbers involved in the calculation
(i.e. a, b and c) to be whole numbers?
Pythagorean triads
A group of three whole numbers that satisfy Pythagoras
Theorem is called a Pythagorean triad.
The most common triads are (3, 4, 5), (5, 12, 13),
(7, 24, 25) and (8, 15, 17) and multiples of these. If we
multiply each of the numbers in a triad by the same
number we get another triad.
For example, multiplying the numbers in (3, 4, 5)
by two gives the triad (6, 8, 10), while multiplying the
(5, 12, 13) triad by five gives the triad (25, 60, 65).
A Pythagorean trio.
worked example 3
Using your knowledge of common Pythagorean triads, state the value of the unknown side
in each of the following triangles.
(a)
(b)
10 m
8 cm
6m
15 cm
Steps
(a) 1. Check if the values of the shorter sides match
a common triad, (a, b, c).
2. State the answer.
(b) 1. Check if the values of the hypotenuse and one
of the shorter sides match a common triad,
(a, b, c).
2. Find the missing number in the triad by
multiplying the missing common triad number
by the common multiple.
3. State the answer.
122
Solutions
(a) a = 8, b = 15, c = ?
(8, 15, 17)
Hypotenuse = 17 cm
(b) a = 6 = 3 2 and
c = 10 = 5 2, so (6, ?, 10) is a
multiple ( 2) of the common
triad (3, 4, 5).
Thus, b = 4 2 = 8
The missing short side is 8 m.
Dont forget to include the appropriate units with your answer.
Surds and approximations

Unfortunately, Pythagoras Theorem doesnt always give nice answers.
For example, if a = 5 and b = 7, then
a2 + b2 = 52+ 72
= 25 + 49
= 74.
Thus c2 = 74, and so the hypotenuse has length 74 . This number, when
expressed as a decimal, will have an infinite number of decimal places with no
recurring pattern. It is called an irrational number.
These types of numbers are called surds. Other surds include numbers
such as 2 , 7 , 35 etc. We can write the answer in exact surd form or,
especially for real-life situations, in decimal form using a calculator. This is
called a rational approximation. In questions that follow in this chapter, we
will write these answers correct to two decimal places, unless given other
instructions.
The only way to write the exact value of a surd such as 74 is to write the surd itself.
That is, the exact value of 74 is 74 . The number given by a calculator is actually
a rational approximation to the exact value. It is usual to round this approximation to a
given number of decimal places (in our case, to two decimal places).
worked example 4
Find the value of c, correct to two decimal places if necessary, using Pythagoras Theorem,
given that:
(a) a = 12 and b = 16
(b) a = 10 and b = 17
Steps
(a) 1. Substitute the given values into Pythagoras
Theorem.
2. Evaluate and simplify the right-hand side.
3. Find the value of c by taking the square root of
the number.
(b) 1. Substitute the given values into Pythagoras
Theorem.
2. Evaluate and simplify the right-hand side.
Solutions
(a) c2 = a2 + b2
c2 = 122 + 162
= 144 + 256
= 400
c = 400
= 20
(b) c2 = a2 + b2
c2 = 102 + 172
= 100 + 289
= 389
3 py t hagoras
THEOREM
123
3. Find the value of c by taking the square root of

the number. You will need a calculator to find
this number.
c = 389
= 19.723 082 92
4. Give the answer correct to two decimal places.
= 19.72
Units are not always specified in problems. In this case, your answer will simply be a
number without units attached.
exercise 3.2
Squares, square roots, surds

and approximations
Skills
1 Using your knowledge of Pythagorean triads, find the value of the

hypotenuse in each of the following.
(a)
(b)
(c)
9m
(d)
40 mm
Hint
12 cm
(e)
20 cm
Worked Example 3
5 cm
30 mm
12 m
(f)
2m
15 cm
7.5 mm
4 mm
1.5 m
2 Using your knowledge of Pythagorean triads, find the value of the

unknown side in each of the following.
(a)
(b)
(c)
13 mm
5 mm
51 m
7 cm
45 m
(d)
30 cm
(e)
12.5 m
124
3.5 m
Worked Example 3
Hint
25 cm
(f)
2.5 cm
34 cm
6.5 cm
3 Find the value of c, correct to two decimal places if necessary, using

Pythagoras Theorem.
(a) a = 10, b = 24 (b) a = 5, b = 8
(c) a = 9, b = 12 (d) a = 8, b = 16
(e) a = 12, b = 15 (f) a = 50, b = 120 (g) a = 7, b = 12 (h) a = 11, b = 13
e
e
Worked Example 4
Hint
4 (a) Using Pythagoras Theorem, if a = 13 and b = 20, then c is closest to:

A 33
B 569
C 24
D 23
E 18
(b) The value of x in the right-angled triangle is:
A 10.39
12
B 13.42
C 18.00
6
x
D 180.00
E 108.00
5 (a) Using Pythagoras Theorem, if a = 15 and c = 17, then b is closest to:
A 22
B 64
C 8
D 2
E 23
(b) The value of a, given that b = 36 and c = 39 and a, b, c form a
Pythagorean triad, is:
A 15
B 225
C 514
D 23
E 13
Applications
6 Determine which of the following are Pythagorean triads.

(a) (6, 8, 10)
(b) (24, 45, 51) (c) (14, 48, 50) (d) (25, 60, 80)
(e) (10, 16, 28) (f) (20, 48, 52) (g) (10, 18, 22) (h) (12, 50, 53)
Hint
Homework 3.1
7 Toula has just baked a cake in the shape of a rectangle. She

wants to divide the cake into two right-angled triangles by
cutting along a diagonal of the cake. Toula is then going to place
a cake ribbon around the outside of each of the two triangular
pieces of cake. If the length of the cake is 32 cm and its width is
24 cm, how much cake ribbon will she need to buy, giving your
answer to an appropriate accuracy.
Analysis
8 (a) Daisy claims In each Pythagorean triad with no common factor, it

appears that there is one even and two odd numbers, one number
with a factor of 5 and at least one prime number. Consider the
following triads to decide whether Daisys statement is true. If
you had to modify her claim, what would you change it into?
3, 4, 5
8, 15, 17
20, 21, 29
5, 12, 13
12, 35, 37
28, 45, 53
7, 24, 25
16, 63, 65
36, 77, 85
9, 40, 41
20, 99, 101
44, 117, 125
11, 60, 61
24, 143, 145
52, 165, 173
13, 84, 85
28, 195, 197
15, 112, 113
32, 255, 257
17, 144, 145
(b) Can you find the pattern in each column and then write down the
next triad in each column?
3 py t hagoras
THEOREM
125
The secret society
Is the theorem all there is to Pythagoras? The answer is a definite no.

Pythagoras of Samos was born about 570 BC on the Greek island of Samos. He died
about 475 BC, although the whereabouts and circumstances of his death are not absolutely
clear. Pythagoras was well educated and may even have been taught by Thales, one of the
greatest teachers of ancient Greece. He travelled to Egypt where he was accepted into the
priesthood in the temple at Diospolis. During this time Pythagoras became familiar with
many customs and practices that he later imposed on his own society, the Pythagoreans.
Upon his return to the Mediterranean Pythagoras founded a philosophical and religious
school at Croton, which was located on the east side of the heel of what is now Italy. The
Pythagoreans had to obey some strict rules. As an example, new members were not allowed
to speak for five years! Because of the secretive nature of the group and the communal
nature of their work it is virtually impossible to tell which work was done by Pythagoras
himself and what was done by other members of the society. However, we do know that
women were members. In fact, Pythagoras wife, Theano, was a member in her own right,
and one of his daughters, Damo, was given the responsibility for keeping her fathers
writings secret after his death.
Even though we call the formula above the Theorem of Pythagoras, the result it explains
was known for hundreds of years before Pythagoras. The pyramids have square bases formed
using a 3, 4, 5 triangle. A Babylonian tablet dated to 1900 BC contains a table of what we now
call Pythagorean triads, and an ancient Chinese text, the Chou-pei, shows that the Chinese
126
also knew about at least the triads many hundreds of years before the Pythagoreans. The
Pythagoreans were probably the first to prove the theorem in a formal way.
The discovery of irrational numbers was an interesting one.
The Pythagoreans had a motto: All is number. By this they
meant everything in life could be reduced to an analysis of
number, and numbers were always able to be expressed as the
1
ratio of two other numbers. In the pursuit of triples the
Pythagoreans came across the right-angled isosceles triangle
1
that had its equal sides one unit long. The length of the
hypotenuse of this triangle is the irrational number 2 . There are
stories that the Pythagoreans tried to keep this a secret as it went against their general
philosophy, but no one knows if these are true.
The Pythagoreans also worked on number patterns. They gave names to certain families
of numbers:
Perfect numbers have the sum of their proper divisors equal to the number itself. As an
example, the proper divisors of 6 are 1, 2, 3 and 1 + 2 + 3 = 6. (The proper divisors are all
the divisors except the number itself.)
Abundant numbers have the sum of their proper divisors greater than the number itself.
As an example, the proper divisors of 12 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 6 = 16.
Deficient numbers have the sum of their proper divisors less than the number itself. As
an example, the proper divisors of 8 are 1, 2, 4 and 1 + 2 + 4 = 7.
Amicable numbers are pairs of numbers a and b such that a is the sum of the proper
divisors of b and b is the sum of the proper divisors of a. The smallest pair of amicable
numbers is 220 and 284.
Questions
a2 1
a2 + 1
1 The expressions -------------- , a, -------------- , where a is an odd integer, generate Pythagorean triads.
2
2
(a) Find the triads for a = 3, 5, 7, 9, 11.
(b) What happens if a = 1?
2 Show that the numbers 220 and 284 are indeed amicable.
3 The symbol of the Pythagorean society was the
pentagram, or star pentagon.
Draw a regular pentagon on a plain sheet of
paper. Make the sides 10 cm long. Use a protractor
E
to mark the internal angles. They will be 108. Then
draw the internal diagonals and label the diagram
as shown. Now measure AC, AD' and D'C to the
nearest millimetre.
(a) Find the ratios AC : D'C and D'C : AD' and
confirm that these are equal, allowing for
some measurement inaccuracy.
(b) Do a similar calculation for one of the other diagonals.
(c) What type of shape is A'B'C'D'E'?
D'
C'
B
E'
B'
A'
D
Research
Make a poster presentation of at least five different proofs of the
Pythagoras Theorem.
3 py t hagoras
THEOREM
127
It is possible to use Pythagoras Theorem to find the length of the hypotenuse

of a right-angled triangle, if we know the lengths of the two shorter sides.
worked example 5
Find the length of the hypotenuse, correct to two decimal places if necessary, in the
following right-angled triangle.
10
Steps
1. State Pythagoras Theorem, defining the side
lengths.
2. Substitute the values into Pythagoras Theorem.
3. Simplify the right-hand side.
4. Take the square root of both sides to find the
value of x. You will need a calculator to find this
number.
5. State the length of the hypotenuse, correct to two
decimal places.
Solution
c2 = a 2 + b 2
a = 6, b = 10 and c = x.
x2 = 62 + 102
= 36 + 100 = 136
x = 136
and so x = 11.661 903 78
The hypotenuse has length 11.66
units.
Although (+25)2 and (25)2 both equal 625, only +25 makes sense as the side length of
a triangle. With Pythagoras Theorem use only the positive square root.
Pythagoras Theorem may be applied to other shapes provided they contain

right-angled triangles. Or you may need to solve a problem that will require
Pythagoras Theorem even when there is no right-angled triangle in the
diagram. In these cases it is necessary to find the missing right-angled triangle
by carefully adding a line or lines to the diagram.
128
worked example 6
Use Pythagoras Theorem to find the value of the pronumerals, correct to two decimal
places if necessary, in each of the following diagrams.
12
B
(a)
(b) A
4m
2m
10
cm
Steps
(a) 1. Identify a right-angled triangle and define the
side lengths.
15
Solutions
(a) Let the hypotenuse be c, and
a = 2, b = 4.
4m
2m
2. Substitute the values into Pythagoras

Theorem.
c2 = a2 + b2
c2 = 22 + 42
= 4 + 16 = 20

value of the unknown. You will need a
calculator to find this number.
5. State the length of the unknown side, correct
to two decimal places.
(b) 1. Draw a line from point B down to the line CD to
form a right-angled triangle BED.
cm
c = 20
and so c = 4.472 135 955
The diagonal has length
4.47 m.
(b)
A
12
10
15
2. Redraw the right-angled triangle and define the

side lengths.
Let the hypotenuse

be c = z, and
a = 10, b = 3.
10
E 3 D
3. Substitute the values into Pythagoras

Theorem.
c2 = a2 + b2
z2 = 102 + 32
= 100 + 9 = 109
3 py t hagoras
THEOREM
129

value of the unknown. You will need a
calculator to find this number.
z = 109
= 10.440 306 51
6. State the length of the unknown side, correct

to two decimal places.
exercise 3.3
The unknown side has length

10.44 units.
Finding the hypotenuse of a

Skills
1 Find the length of the hypotenuse in these diagrams.

12
(a)
(b)
(c)
5
e
e
Worked Example 5
Animation
12
(d)
(e)
(f)
15
60
10
25
36
24
2 Find the length of the hypotenuse, correct to two decimal places if

necessary, in these right-angled triangles.
4
12
(a)
(b)
(c)
13
4.8
e
e
e
Worked Example 5
Hint
Worksheet C3.3
3.8
(d)
(e)
x
(f)
16 mm
x
8
3 cm
14 mm
8 cm
14.7
3 The length of the hypotenuse in this right-angled triangle, correct to two

decimal places, is closest to:
A 39.80 mm
B 63.51 mm
35 mm
C 88.00 mm
D 4034.00 mm
E 1584.00 mm
53 mm
130
4 A ladder is leaning against the wall of a school

building and reaches just above the guttering, a height
of 4.27 m above the ground. The foot of the ladder is
1.41 m from the base of the building. What is the
length of the ladder, correct to two decimal places?
Worked Example 5
5 The value of y in the following diagrams is:

(a) A 6.31
B 3.2
C 73.12
y
6.04
D 7.3
E 36.48
4.1
(b) A
B
C
D
E
32.57
21
25.64
31
none of the above
29.34
10
e
e
6 Find the value of the unknown side, c, in each of these diagrams.

15 cm
16 m
(a)
(b)
(c)
c cm
c cm
8 cm
30 m
Worked Example 6
Hint
12 cm
cm
6 cm
8 cm
(d)
(e)
4m
4m
cm
7m
(f)
21 m
12 cm
cm
c cm
8 cm
28 m
18 cm
3 py t hagoras
THEOREM
131
7 Find the value of c, correct to two decimal places, in these diagrams.

7 cm
23 mm
(a)
(b)
(c)
e
e
Worked Example 6
Hint
c cm
7 cm
c cm
15 mm
c mm
17 cm
5 cm
15 cm
(d)
(e)
cm
10 m
(f)
4.5 km
3.2 km
c km
5m
cm
12 m
14 m
10 m
12 m
cm
8 The value of the x in the diagram is closest to:

A 16.4 cm
25 cm
B 17.7cm
C 15.6 cm
10 cm
D 27.0 cm
x cm
E 28.2 cm
x cm
13 cm
Applications
9 Find the value of the pronumerals, correct to two decimal places if

necessary, in the following diagrams.
(a)
(b)
(c)
y cm
8 cm
x cm
x cm
10 cm
10 m
y cm
Hint
a cm
5m
12 cm
6 cm
7 cm
8 cm
4m
b cm
18 m
(d)
(e)
y mm
20 mm
(f)
5 cm
6 cm
7 cm
4 cm
a cm
3 cm
x mm
a cm
b cm
4 cm
12 mm
16 mm
b cm
c cm
4 cm
132
10 The values of x and y in the diagram are closest to:

A x = 10.39 cm, y = 7.21 cm
B x = 7.21 cm, y = 13.42 cm
x cm
C x = 13.42 cm, y = 7.21 cm
D x = 13.42 cm, y = 4.47 cm
12 cm
E x = 10.29 cm, y = 4.47 cm
y cm
4 cm
Analysis
11 (a) For a right-angled isosceles triangle, with the two equal shorter sides
having length 10 cm, find the length of the hypotenuse. Now divide
the length of the hypotenuse by the length of the shorter side. Do you
recognise this number?
(b) Find the length of the hypotenuse for several other right-angled
isosceles triangles. Then divide the length of the hypotenuse by the
length of the shorter side. What do you notice about the result?
12 A swimming pool is 50 m long and
12
25 m wide. Anastasia is trying to swim a
length of the pool, starting from a
corner at the shallow end. However she
has trouble with her direction, and
usually ends up somewhere between
the two corners at the other end of the
pool.
(a) Draw a diagram and calculate four
possible distances, correct to two
decimal places, that Anastasia
may actually end up swimming by
completing her lap of the
50 m pool.
(b) What is the maximum distance
Anastasia can actually swim when
completing a lap of the pool?
Hint
There is one other type of problem that needs Pythagoras Theorem for its
solution. The length of one of the shorter sides of a right-angled triangle can
be found if we are given the lengths of the hypotenuse and the other side.
3 py t hagoras
THEOREM
133
03HMZVELS9EN_text Page 134 Monday, August 4, 2008 4:08 PM
worked example 7
Find the value of y, correct to two decimal places if necessary, in this
right-angled triangle.
19
14
Steps
lengths.
c2 = a 2 + b 2
a = y, b = 14, c = 19
192 = y2 + 142
3. Rewrite so that y2 is the subject of the

expression.
value of y. You will need a calculator to find this
number.
y2 = 192 142
6. State the length of the unknown side, correct to

two decimal places.
Solution
= 361 196 = 165

y = 165
y = 12.845 232 57
The side has length 12.85 units.
Remember: if you are finding a side other than the hypotenuse, then it must be
shorter than the hypotenuse.
It may be necessary to draw out a right-angled triangle from a diagram in order
to apply Pythagoras Theorem.
worked example 8
Find the value of x, correct to two decimal places, in this
diagram.
10 m
xm
Steps
1. Draw a diagram of the appropriate right-angled
triangle.
Solution
10
x

lengths.
134
12 m
12
c2 = a 2 + b 2
Let a = 10, b = x and c = 12
122 =102 + y2
4. Rewrite so that x2 is the subject of the

expression.
x2 = 122 102
= 144 100
= 44

value of y. You will need a calculator to find this
number.
y = 44
y = 6.633 249 581
7. State the answer correct to two decimal places.
The unknown side is x = 6.63 m.
e
exercise 3.4
eTutorial
Finding a shorter side of a

Skills
e
e
1 Find the value of the unknown shorter side in these diagrams.

(a)
(b)
(c)
7
37
Worked Example 7
Animation
15
12
25
12
(d)
(e)
9m
(f)
52
20
36 mm
85 mm
41 m
2 Find the value of the unknown shorter side, correct to two decimal places,
in these diagrams.
(a)
(b)
(c)
y
y
Worked Example 7
Hint
29
14
32
21.3
y
(d)
(e)
45
(f)
15 m
10 m
127
y
20.4 m
11.2 m
3 py t hagoras
Worksheet C3.4
THEOREM
135
3 A playground slide has

a length of 4.76 m, while
it covers a distance of
4.10 m on the ground.
What is the height of
the slide, correct to two
decimal places?
e
e
Worked Example 7
Hint
4.76 m
?
4.10 m
4 (a) The value of x in this right-angled

triangle is closest to:
15.2
7.9
A 12.99
B 17.13
C 23.10
D 7.30
E 14.25
x
(b) The hypotenuse of a right-angled
triangle has length 55 cm. One of the shorter sides has a length of
53 cm. The length of the third side is closest to:
A 2 cm
B 216 cm
C 14.6 cm D 14.7 cm E 15.0 cm
Applications
5 Find the value of the pronumerals, correct to two decimal places if

necessary, in each of the following diagrams.
(a)
(b)
(c)
12 m
6m
14 m
xm
xm
15 m
Worked Example 8
Hint
5m
xm
10 m
10 m
(d)
(e)
34 mm
(f)
10 cm
12 m
x mm
10 mm
y cm
13
cm
15 cm
28 mm
20 m
10 m
ym
xm
x cm
6 Find the lengths of the shorter sides, correct to two decimal places, if the
length of the hypotenuse of a right-angled isosceles triangle is as given.
(a) 20 cm
(b) 12 m
(c) 100 cm
(d) 35 m
Hint
Analysis
77 Find one set of possible lengths of the shorter sides, correct to two decimal
places, if the length of the hypotenuse of a right-angled scalene triangle is
as given.
(a) 20 cm
(b) 12 m
(c) 100 cm
(d) 35 m
136
e
e
e
eQuestions
Worksheet C3.5
Homework 3.2
Answer the questions, showing your working, and then arrange the letters in the order shown
by the corresponding answers to find the cartoon caption.
Find each side length in cm.
Complete the Pythagorean triad (6, 8, E).
E
The length of the hypotenuse, G, of a right-angled triangle if the two shorter sides
G
are 15 cm and 20 cm.
Complete the Pythagorean triad (7, H, 25).
H
The length of the unknown side of a right-angled triangle, I cm, if the hypotenuse is
I
17 cm and the known short side is 8 cm.
The length of the
N
The length of the
O
The length of the
P
hypotenuse in this triangle:
hypotenuse in this triangle:
unknown shorter side:
N cm
7 cm
18 cm
18 cm
20 cm
The length of the

unknown shorter side:
27 cm
O cm
P cm
19 cm
The length of the

T
unknown shorter sides:
The length of the

U
unknown shorter sides:
19 cm
T cm
25 cm
T cm
24
38 cm
U cm
S cm
30 cm
15
25
24
19.2
25.5
17.7
U cm
15
21.2
26.9
23.2
10
3 py t hagoras
THEOREM
137
Pythagoras Theorem is a powerful mathematical tool, having uses in

geometrical proofs as well as in many practical situations.
Solving problems involving

right-angled triangles
Right-angled triangles are found in many situations, and so Pythagoras
Theorem is often useful for calculations based around these triangles. With
practical problems, follow these steps:
1 Draw a diagram (involving a right-angled triangle) to illustrate the

situation described in the problem statement (if not already given).
2 Label key points of the diagram such as the right angle and the
hypotenuse, and the measurements specified in the problem.
3 Label the measurements you are requested to find with
pronumerals.
4 If necessary, re-draw the appropriate right-angled triangle.
5 Use Pythagoras Theorem to find the required measurement.
6 Make sure that you answer the problem as required (to the required
accuracy, along with appropriate units). If it is a sentence question,
answer in a sentence.
Problems may involve finding the hypotenuse.
worked example 9
What is the length of the diagonal support of the
house frame shown? State your answer correct to
two decimal places.
3m
6m
138
Steps
1. Draw a diagram of the appropriate
triangle.
Solution
3m
6m
2. Use Pythagoras Theorem to find the

value of the pronumeral.
3. State the answer correct to two

decimal places.
c2 = a2 + b2
c2 = 62 + 32
= 36 + 9 = 45
c = 45
Screen shows 6.708 203 932
The diagonal is 6.71 m long.
Alternatively, problems may involve finding the length of one of the shorter
sides.
worked example 10
A ladder 3.5 m long is leaning against a vertical wall with the base 1.5 m from the bottom of
the wall on horizontal ground. How high up the wall does the ladder reach, correct to two
decimal places?
Steps
1. Draw a labelled picture with all
measurements indicated.
Solution
3.5 m
B 1.5 m C
2. Draw a diagram of the appropriate

triangle.
3.5 m
B 1.5 m C
3 py t hagoras
THEOREM
139
3. Use Pythagoras Theorem to find the

value of the pronumeral.
4. Give your answer in the context of the

question.
exercise 3.5
c2 = a 2 + b2
Let a = 1.5, b = x, c = 3.5
3.52 = 1.52 + x2
x2 = 3.52 1.52
= 12.25 2.25
= 10
x = 10
x = 3.16
The ladder will reach 3.16 m up the wall.
Applications of Pythagoras
Theorem
Where necessary, state your answers correct to two decimal places.

Skills
e
e
1 A support wire is attached 5 m up a flagpole. The

other end is attached to the ground 3 m from the
base of the flagpole. How long is this wire?
Worked Example 9
Hint
x
5m
3m
2 The escalator at the local

department store is 18 m long.
When you ride on the escalator
you move across 15 m. The
height through which you
travelled is:
A 9.95 m
B 23.43 m
C 12.28 m
D 3m
E none of the above
18 m
x
15 m
3 Andrew is standing at the corner of the

park, and has decided to cross diagonally
rather than go around.
(a) How far does Andrew travel when
crossing the park?
(b) How much distance does he save by
not going around?
140
Hint
e
e
28 m
35 m
Worked Example 9
Hint
4 A 13 m long ladder is resting against a wall with its foot 5 m from the base
of the wall. How high up the wall does the ladder reach?
A 10 m
B 12 m
C 18 m
D 14 m
E 11 m
5 Kensington race course has races that
are run over a straight 1200 m course.
One horse starts near the outside fence
and runs in a straight line towards the
finishing post on the inside fence. If the
track is 35 m wide, how much further
does this horse run than one that runs in
a straight line along the inside fence?
Worked Example 9
Worked Example 10
Hint
1200 m
35 m
6 The bottom of a slide is 3.6 m from the base of

the vertical ladder. If the slide is 5 m long, how
high is the ladder?
x
5m
3.6 m
7 Edmond has attached a 17 m long support wire to a radio tower 2 m from

the top of the tower. If the other end of the wire is attached to the ground
7.5 m from the base of the tower, the total height of the tower is:
A 17.26 m
B 15.26 m
C 18.58 m
D 20.58 m
E 19 m
8 A flagpole, 10 m tall, is supported
by two wires, each of length 16 m
which are fastened to bolts in the
ground. How far apart are the
pegs?
A 156.00 m
B 12.49 m
C 24.98 m
D 16.97 m
E 33.94 m
16 m
16 m
10 m
e
e
9 The length of the hypotenuse on an isosceles right-angled triangle

is 16 cm. What is the length of the other two sides?
10 During a heavy rainstorm, the road that Ayse
normally takes to travel home from school has
become flooded. She must take a detour as
shown in the diagram. How much further
does she now have to travel?
Worked Example 10
Hint
3.6 km
flood
2.9 km
3 py t hagoras
THEOREM
141
Applications
11 The end view of a garden shed is shown

in the diagram. The shed is 5.2 m wide,
the sides are 2.1 m high and the sloping
part of the roof is 2.8 m. Calculate the
overall height of the shed, to an
appropriate level of accuracy.
2.8 m
2.1 m
5.2 m
12 Two steel discs, one with diameter 6 cm

and one with diameter 8 cm, are placed in a square
wooden frame. Find the length of the sides of this
frame.
Animation
13 The roads corporation needs to

35 km
A
build a new road between the
two towns of Alderton and
Zincton. Unfortunately there is 18 km
a mountainous region between
the towns. It costs $2500 per
kilometre to build a road
Z
around the mountains and
$4000 per kilometre to build a road through the mountains. Which is the
cheapest way to build the required road?
14 The frame for the wall of a new building is made from steel girders that are
10 m long. The frame is rectangular, 7.5 m high and 18 m long, and it has one
diagonal support. Find the cost of the frame if the beams cost $230.00 each.
Analysis
15 Jenny is standing at A, the corner of

several paddocks. She wishes to travel to
the points B, C, D, E and F, and finish
back at A after travelling the shortest
possible distance. In what order should
she visit each point, and what will be the
distance travelled?
D
20 m
C
30 m
B
E
15 m
A 10 m
F
16 Angela has built a new rectangular

gate from timber. The gate is 1.5 m
high and 3.1 m wide. She has decided
to put in two diagonal cross supports
to give the gate more strength. What is
the total length of extra wood she will
need?
142
3.1 m
1.5 m
Hint
The cost of the gate depends on the amount of timber it takes to make it.
Would it be cheaper to make the gate from one of these designs?
Design your own gate to be the same height and width as Angelas.
How does the relative cost of your gate compare?
e
e
Hint
Homework 3.3
Restarter 3
Fire rescues
Investigating and designing
Fire trucks with extension ladders are used regularly to

remove people from burning buildings. However, they
are limited in how far they can reach, by both the length
of the ladder and, for stability reasons, the distance they
can safely park away from the edge of the building.
Assume that the ladder is at the back of the truck and its
foot is 2 m off the ground.
1 Draw a diagram to show a truck with its ladder and
a building. Label the unknown distances with
pronumerals.
Producing
The truck is 4 m away from the base of the building and

the fully extended ladder reaches 16.46 m up the side of
the building.
2 Use your diagram to find the length of the ladder to
the nearest metre.
3 It is decided that the trucks must park between 2 m
and 7.5 m from buildings. What is the maximum height that the ladder can reach from each
extreme position?
4 How far from the wall is the truck if the fully extended ladder reaches a height of 15.5 m?
Analysing and evaluating
5 A building has its windows 1.5 m above the ground and then the windows of successive
floors are 4.2 m apart vertically. Which would be the highest floor that the ladder could
reach?
6 For Question 5, what length of ladder would be needed to reach to the 6th floor?
3 py t hagoras
THEOREM
143
DIY summary
Copy and complete the following using the words and phrases
from the list where appropriate to write a summary for this chapter.
A word or phrase may be used more than once.
1 Why is a right-angled triangle so named?
2 The longest side of a right-angled triangle is called the
________.
3 For any _________ triangle, the square of the length of the
__________ is equal to the sum of the squares of the lengths of
the two shorter sides.
hypotenuse
irrational number
Pythagoras
Pythagoras Theorem
Pythagorean triad
rational approximation
surds
4 The equation c2 = a2 + b2 is known as __________ ______. It is

named after ___________, the person credited with developing
this formula.
5 A group of three whole numbers that satisfy Pythagoras
Theorem, for example (3, 4, 5), is called a ____________ ____.
6 Numbers such as
2,
7,
35 are called _______.
7 What sort of number is a surd?

8 We usually write the value of numbers such as
___________ ________________.
84 as a
VELS personal learning activity

1 Draw a right-angled triangle and label all sides. Write down Pythagoras Theorem using the labels
that you have used.
2 Show how Pythagoras Theorem works using a Pythagorean triad.
3 Make up a little rhyme, rap or tune to assist you to remember Pythagoras Theorem. Share it with
a partner.
4 Explain how you could work out if a triangle was right-angled if you dont have a protractor but
do have a ruler.
5 Explain what rational approximation means and why it is needed. Give an example.
144
Skills
1 Measure the angles and determine whether each of the following triangles
is a right-angled triangle.
(a)
(b)
(c)
3.1
40 mm
40 mm
35 mm
30 mm
2 Use a ruler to carefully measure the lengths, in millimetres, of the sides

3.1
of the following triangles and determine whether Pythagoras Theorem
holds for each triangle. (You may need to allow for some measurement error.)
(a)
(b)
(c)
3 By substituting into Pythagoras Theorem, test to see whether triangles

with the following side lengths are right-angled triangles.
(a) a triangle with sides 6 cm, 11 cm, 14 cm
(b) a triangle with sides 14 mm, 48 mm, 50 mm
4 Using your knowledge of common Pythagorean triads, state the value of
the unknown side in each of the following triangles.
(a)
(b)
(c)
16 cm
16 m
14 m
12 cm
3.1
3.2
34 m
48 m
5 Find the value of c, correct to two decimal places if necessary, using

Pythagoras Theorem given that:
(a) a = 45 and b = 60
(b) a = 32 and b = 22
(c) a = 7.5 and b = 10
3.2
3 py t hagoras
THEOREM
145
6 Find the length of the hypotenuse, correct to two decimal places if

necessary, in these right-angled triangles.
(a)
(b)
(c)
22 mm
21 cm
3.3
45 m
11 mm
45 m
72 cm
7 Use Pythagoras Theorem to find the value of the pronumeral, correct to

two decimal places if necessary, in each of the following diagrams.
(a)
(b)
35 cm
3.3
xm
8m
a cm
21 cm
3m
9m
8 Use Pythagoras Theorem to find the value of x, correct to two decimal

places if necessary, in each of the following diagrams.
(a)
(b)
(c)
xm
3.4
x cm
46 cm
x cm
33 m
85 m
57 cm
59 cm
37 cm
9 Find the value of x, correct to two decimal places, in the following

diagrams:
(a)
(b)
14 cm
5m
3.4
15 m
17 cm
xm
x cm
4m
17 m
10 The Leaning Tower of Pisa is 150 m tall, but is leaning over so that a stone
dropped from the top lands 5 m from the base. The height of the top of the
tower above ground level is:
A 150.98 m
B 150.00 m C 149.98 m D 145.00 m E 149.92 m
146
3.4
Applications
12 Ming and Tong have decided to

140 m
have a race from the gate to the
playground in Macalister Park.
Ming has decided to run along
the left edge of the path and can 65 m
do so at a speed of 7 metres per
second. On the other hand, Tong
Gate
decides to go directly from the
gate to the playground but this is very sandy and he can only run at
5 metres per second. Who wins the race to the playground?
13 A playground slide is 2.6 m high.
The ladder is 3.6 m long. The
distance from the bottom of the
slide, C, to the base of the ladder,
A, is 6.8 m. The end of the slide,
CD, is 2 m. Find the total length
of the slide from B to D.
14 Tony was to meet Lynne at the
local park. What would be the
shortest distance for Tony to
travel from his position at point A
to Lynnes position at point B?
Playgroun d
11 Rebecca is mounting a new 3.0 m antenna on the roof of her house. She
needs to hire a ladder which will need to extend 1.2 m above the level of
the guttering, which is 4.2 m above the ground as shown in the diagram.
(a) If the antenna is placed on the roof 0.9 m
3.0m
horizontally from the outer wall, what is
1.2m
the horizontal distance between the foot
of the ladder and the foot of the antenna?
(b) Hence calculate what length ladder (to the
4.2m
nearest cm) Rebecca should hire.
Once she has mounted the antenna on the
2.9m
roof Rebecca will need to attach a support
wire connected to the top of the antenna,
7.5 m above ground, to a peg in the ground.
(c) If the wire is 9.0 m long, how far from the wall should the peg be
placed?
3.5
3.5
B
3.6 m
3.5
2.6 m
C 2m D
6.8 m
95 m
3.5
15 m
70 m
70 m
55 m
A 25 m
3 py t hagoras
THEOREM
147
Analysis
15 Daniel and Courtney are going to make a garden in an area in the

backyard of their new house. They have measured the space and it
is shown in the diagram.
(a) Calculate the perimeter of the garden and find the number of
2 m long sleepers they will need to form the perimeter of the
garden.
(b) If 2 m long sleepers cost $35 each, how much will it cost to
place sleepers all around the garden bed?
2m
2m
4m
5m
16 Before each horse race, a barrier draw occurs to determine

each horses starting position. Closest to the rails is the more
desired position and is represented by point A on the diagram
shown. The least preferred position is near the outside edge
of the track (point B). It can be assumed that all jockeys aim
to take their horses in a direct line to the beginning of the first
corner (point C).
(a) How much further does the horse at point B travel than the horse at
point A?
(b) Is this difference significant? Comment on this.
2 Solve for x:
(a) 7x = 35
(b) 120 + 45 200

(b) 17 x = (30)
3 A cube has a side length of 4 cm. Find its volume.
148
B
40 m
C
A
400 m
17 Four steel discs, each with radius 1 cm, are placed in

a square frame.
(a) Find the length of the sides of this frame.
(b) In order to brace the frame, a diagonal
support is to be added to the frame. Find the
length of this support.
(c) Find the length of material needed to build
the frame, including the diagonal brace.
1 Calculate:
(a) 87 110
starting
stalls
1 cm
Hint
1 cm
1 cm
1 cm
(c)
+ 10 7
(c) x + 45 = (10)
Worksheet R3.8
Worksheet R3.9
Worksheet R3.10
4 Write the supplementary angle for each of the following.

(a) 90
(b) 125
(c) 12
5 What HinduArabic numbers (our number system) do the following
Roman numerals represent?
(a) VIII
(b) XLIV
(c) CCLIX
6 Simplify:
(a) 56k (7k)
12r
(b) ----------(c) 6st 18
36rs
7 Convert the following ratios to fractions in their simplest form:
(a) 12 : 30
(b) 13 : 39
(c) 60 : 5
(d) 19 : 7
8 Simplify the following:
(a) x6 x5 x2
Worksheet R3.11
Worksheet R3.12
Worksheet R3.13
1.1
x7 x4
(b)
(c) --------------x2 x3
9 (a) Erica earns $12.75 per hour before tax. If she works a total of 17 hours
in a week how much will she earn?
(b) Rosemary earns $1.25 for each shirt that she sews. How many shirts
will Rosemary need to sew in order to earn over $200 in any
particular week?
x8
1.3
x5
1.5
10 (a) Find the simple interest on $250 invested at 5% p.a. for 4 years.
(b) Find the simple interest on $300 invested at 2 3--4- % p.a. for 30 months.
1.7
11 Find the shaded area in each of these shapes.
2.4
(a)
12 cm
10 cm
(b)
(c)
6 cm
20 cm
16 cm
20 cm
11 cm
7 cm
10 cm
5 cm
25 cm
e
e
e
3 py t hagoras
Worksheet C3.6
Worksheet C3.7
Assignment 3
THEOREM
149

Heinemann Maths Zone 9 - Chapter 3

Caricato da

Informazioni sul documento

Descrizione originale:

Copyright

Formati disponibili

Condividi questo documento

Condividi o incorpora il documento

Opzioni di condivisione

Hai trovato utile questo documento?

Questo contenuto è inappropriato?

Copyright:

Formati disponibili

Heinemann Maths Zone 9 - Chapter 3

Caricato da

Copyright:

Formati disponibili

03HMZVELS9EN_intro Page 112 Monday, June 30, 2008 11:06 AM

03HMZVELS9EN_intro Page 113 Monday, June 30, 2008 11:06 AM

he name Pythagoras is attached to the

03HMZVELS9EN_intro Page 114 Monday, June 30, 2008 11:06 AM

1 State whether the following triangles are equilateral, scalene or isosceles.

2 Round each of the following numbers to two decimal places.

6 Solve the following equations.

7 Solve the following equations. Where necessary, express your answer as a

03HMZVELS9EN_text Page 115 Monday, June 30, 2008 11:07 AM

A triangle which contains a 90 angle, known as a right angle, is

The Theorem of Pythagoras

03HMZVELS9EN_text Page 116 Monday, June 30, 2008 11:07 AM

Pythagoras Theorem states that, for

For example, consider the right-angled triangle of

2. Determine which is the longest side, and call it

HEINEMANN MATHS ZONE

03HMZVELS9EN_text Page 117 Monday, June 30, 2008 11:07 AM

3. Check if these values satisfy Pythagoras

If Pythagoras Theorem works, then the triangle must be a

Pythagoras Theorem and

03HMZVELS9EN_text Page 118 Monday, June 30, 2008 11:07 AM

2 (a) For each of the triangles you identified as right-angled in Question 1,

4 Use a ruler to carefully measure the lengths, in millimetres, of the sides of e

HEINEMANN MATHS ZONE

03HMZVELS9EN_text Page 119 Monday, June 30, 2008 11:07 AM

6 For each of the following, construct right-angled triangles to scale, and

03HMZVELS9EN_text Page 120 Monday, June 30, 2008 11:07 AM

Proofs of Pythagoras Theorem

It's a great theorem Pythagoras,

Follow these steps to re-create one proof of Pythagoras Theorem.

HEINEMANN MATHS ZONE

03HMZVELS9EN_text Page 121 Monday, June 30, 2008 11:07 AM

(c) Rearrange the triangles as shown. Remember the

Follow these steps to re-create Perigals proof of Pythagoras Theorem.

(c) Cut the middle-sized square B into the four

03HMZVELS9EN_text Page 122 Monday, June 30, 2008 11:07 AM

HEINEMANN MATHS ZONE

The missing short side is 8 m.

03HMZVELS9EN_text Page 123 Monday, June 30, 2008 11:07 AM

Dont forget to include the appropriate units with your answer.

Surds and approximations

03HMZVELS9EN_text Page 124 Monday, June 30, 2008 11:07 AM

3. Find the value of c by taking the square root of

4. Give the answer correct to two decimal places.

Squares, square roots, surds

1 Using your knowledge of Pythagorean triads, find the value of the

2 Using your knowledge of Pythagorean triads, find the value of the

HEINEMANN MATHS ZONE

03HMZVELS9EN_text Page 125 Monday, June 30, 2008 11:07 AM

3 Find the value of c, correct to two decimal places if necessary, using

4 (a) Using Pythagoras Theorem, if a = 13 and b = 20, then c is closest to:

6 Determine which of the following are Pythagorean triads.

7 Toula has just baked a cake in the shape of a rectangle. She

8 (a) Daisy claims In each Pythagorean triad with no common factor, it

03HMZVELS9EN_text Page 126 Monday, June 30, 2008 11:07 AM

The secret society

Is the theorem all there is to Pythagoras? The answer is a definite no.

HEINEMANN MATHS ZONE

03HMZVELS9EN_text Page 127 Monday, June 30, 2008 11:07 AM

03HMZVELS9EN_text Page 128 Monday, June 30, 2008 11:07 AM

It is possible to use Pythagoras Theorem to find the length of the hypotenuse

Pythagoras Theorem may be applied to other shapes provided they contain