Geometry Notes: Chapter 8
Chapter 8: Pythagorean Theorem and Right Triangles
Pythagorean Theorem:
1. The Pythagorean Theorem applies to right triangles.
2. Formula: a^2 + b^2 = c^2, where:
- 'a' and 'b' are the lengths of the legs.
- 'c' is the length of the hypotenuse (the side opposite the right angle).
3. This theorem is used to:
- Calculate the length of a missing side in a right triangle.
- Verify whether a triangle is a right triangle.
4. Examples:
- If a = 3 and b = 4, then c^2 = 3^2 + 4^2 = 9 + 16 = 25, so c = 5.
- For a triangle with sides 5, 12, and 13, verify: 5^2 + 12^2 = 25 + 144 = 169, so it's a right triangle.
Special Right Triangles:
1. 45-45-90 Triangle:
- Legs are equal in length.
- Hypotenuse = Leg * sqrt(2).
2. 30-60-90 Triangle:
- Shorter leg = x, Longer leg = x*sqrt(3), Hypotenuse = 2x.
- Example: If the shorter leg is 5, then the longer leg = 5*sqrt(3), and the hypotenuse = 10.
Distance Formula:
1. The distance formula is derived from the Pythagorean Theorem.
2. Formula: d = sqrt((x2 - x1)^2 + (y2 - y1)^2), where:
- (x1, y1) and (x2, y2) are the coordinates of two points.
3. It is used to find the distance between two points in a coordinate plane.
Applications of the Pythagorean Theorem:
1. Construction and architecture: Ensuring right angles in structures.
2. Navigation: Calculating shortest distances (as the crow flies).
3. Physics: Determining resultant forces or vectors.
4. Sports: Measuring diagonal distances in fields or courts.
