Chapter 11: Pythagoras Theorem Form 3

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Chapter 11: Pythagoras Theorem
(Edexcel Chapter 19 pg 295, exercises 19A, 19B)


Pythagoras was a famous mathematician in Ancient Greece. The theorem which
is named after him is an important result about right angled triangles.

















The angle B is the right angle. The side, AB, opposite the right angle is called the
hypotenuse. It is the longest side in the triangle.





















A
B C
Chapter 11: Pythagoras Theorem Form 3
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The area of the square on the side of length 3 units is 9 units
2
.
The area of the square on the side of length 4 units is 16 units
2
.
The area of the square on the side of length 5 units (the hypotenuse) is 25 units
2
.

We can notice that 25 units
2
= 9 units
2
+ 16 units
2


Thus, 5
2
= 3
2
+ 4
2

Pythagorass theorem states:

In a right-angled triangle, the area of the square on the hypotenuse is equal to
the sum of areas of the square on the other two sides.

Pythagoras theorem can be used to find the length of the third side of a right-
angled triangle when the lengths of the other two sides are known. For this, the
theorem is usually stated in terms of the lengths of the sides of the triangle.

c
2
= a
2
+ b
2


Apply Pythagoras theorem to this right-angled triangle:









CB
2
= CA
2
+ BA
2


11.1 Finding Lengths
Aim: 19A pg 297
Example 1: Work out the length of the hypotenuse in this triangle.








A
B
C
Chapter 11: Pythagoras Theorem Form 3
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No matter the position of the right angled-triangle, Pythagoras Theorem still applies.
Example 2: In triangle XYZ, angle X = 90, XY = 8.6cm and XZ = 13.9 cm.
Work out the length of YZ.
Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures.












Pythagoras theorem can also be used to work out the length of one of the shorter
sides in a right- angled triangle when the lengths of the other two sides are known.

Example 3: Find the missing length. Give you answer to 3 s.f













Chapter 11: Pythagoras Theorem Form 3
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Example 4: In triangle ABC, angle A = 90, BC = 17.4cm and AC = 5.8cm.
Work out the length of AB. Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures.












11.2 Applying Pythagorass Theorem
Aim: 19B pg 300
Example1: Below is the plan of a rectangular field. There is a footpath across the
field from A to C. How much shorter is it to use the footpath than to walk from A
to B and then to C?





















Chapter 11: Pythagoras Theorem Form 3
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Example 2: A helicopter flies 26km north from a heliport, then 19 km west. How
far is it from the heliport now?












































H
N
19 Km
26 km
Chapter 11: Pythagoras Theorem Form 3
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Example 3: The diagram shows an Isosceles triangle
ABC. The midpoint of BC is the point M. In the
triangle, AB = AC = 8 cm and BC = 6cm.

a) Work out the height, AM, of the triangle. Give your
answer to 3 s.f.