New
New
Year 9

Length of the hypotenuse

I can use Pythagoras' theorem to find the length of the hypotenuse.

New
New
Year 9

Length of the hypotenuse

I can use Pythagoras' theorem to find the length of the hypotenuse.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The sum of the squares of the two shorter sides equals the square of the longest side.
  2. The longest side is always opposite the right angle.
  3. A calculator can perform these calculations efficiently.
  4. Priority of operations makes the order clear.

Common misconception

Pythagorean triples can be a trio of any rational numbers that, when constructed into a triangle, always produces a right-angled triangle.

Pythagorean triples are conventionally a trio of integer side lengths of a right-angled triangle, such as the 3, 4, 5 triangle. Other, similar triangles can be generated from Pythagorean triples, whose side lengths are rational, such as 0.3, 0.4, 0.5

Keywords

  • Pythagoras’ theorem - Pythagoras’ theorem shows that the sum of the squares of the two shorter sides of a right-angled triangle is equal to the square of its longest side (the hypotenuse).

  • Hypotenuse - A hypotenuse is the side of the right-angle triangle which is opposite the right-angle.

  • Right-angled triangle - A right-angled triangle has exactly one 90° interior angle.

Whilst it is encouraged for students to transition to more algebraic methods, it is still okay at this stage for students to rely on drawing on a square from each side of the triangle when using Pythagoras' theorem.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of these sides is a hypotenuse?
An image in a quiz
side A
Correct answer: side B
side C
none of them are hypotenuses
it is impossible to tell
Q2.
The triangle formed from these three squares is right-angled. What is the value of $$n$$, where $$n$$ units² is the area of a square.
An image in a quiz
2
4.9
12
Correct answer: 24
290
Q3.
If three squares with different areas are joined at their vertices, what type of triangle would be formed?
acute triangle
Correct answer: scalene triangle
isosceles triangle
equilateral triangle
Q4.
Angle $$a°$$ is an acute angle, but is the largest angle in this triangle. Which of these are possible values of $$t$$, where $$t$$ units² is the area of a square.
An image in a quiz
17
Correct answer: 19
Correct answer: 20
32
34
Q5.
Which of these are true for the Pythagoras' theorem?
Describes a property of only equilateral triangles.
Correct answer: Describes a property of only right-angled triangles.
Correct answer: Describes a relationship between the squares of the side lengths of a triangle.
Describes a relationship between the interior angles of a triangle.
Correct answer: Describes a relationship between squares formed from the sides of a triangle.
Q6.
A right-angled triangle is formed from three squares. The area of two of the squares are 75 units² and 25 units². What are the possible areas of the third square?
3 units²
25 units²
Correct answer: 50 units²
Correct answer: 100 units²
6250 units²

6 Questions

Q1.
The length of the hypotenuse for this right-angled triangle is cm.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 11 cm, 11cm
Q2.
$$k$$ cm² is the area of the square from the hypotenuse of the triangle. The value of $$k$$ is .
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 67.24, 67.24 cm², 67.24cm², 67.24 cm squared, 67.24cm squared
Q3.
Calculate the length of the hypotenuse of this triangle, in units.
An image in a quiz
10 units
12.69 units
14.14 units
Correct answer: 19 units
361 units
Q4.
The area, $$w$$, of the largest square in this diagram is cm².
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 2664, 2664 cm², 2664cm², 2 664, 2,664
Q5.
Calculate the length of the hypotenuse for this triangle. (Give your answer to 1 d.p.).
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: 24.1 units²
506.8 units²
583 units²
256 889 units²
Q6.
The length of the hypotenuse of this triangle, rounded to 1 d.p. is cm.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 23.4