New
New
Year 9

Pythagoras' theorem in context

I can use and apply Pythagoras' theorem to solve problems in a range of contexts.

New
New
Year 9

Pythagoras' theorem in context

I can use and apply Pythagoras' theorem to solve problems in a range of contexts.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Within context, it can be difficult to initially identify whether Pythagoras' theorem can be used.
  2. Pythagoras' theorem may be used if a right-angled triangle can be drawn, even if drawn within a different shape.
  3. Pythagoras' theorem can be used to check for properties of other shapes involving right-angles.

Common misconception

I need to be given a triangle in order to use Pythagoras' theorem.

You do not need to be given a triangle. It is an important skill to be able to sketch and label a triangle for yourself from given information, or go straight into an algebraic stage of calculation if aware that lengths given are perpendicular.

Keywords

  • Perpendicular height - The perpendicular height is the perpendicular distance from the base to the opposite vertex.

  • 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.

It is important to encourage students to be critical of the assumptions you are making about a context when modelling it as a triangle. In some situations, if these assumptions are wrong, conclusions drawn can be very inaccurate.
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.
Izzy writes down a correct Pythagoras' theorem equation for a triangle. Which of the three sides of this triangle is the hypotenuse?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: side A
side B
side C
impossible to tell
Q2.
Aisha rearranges a correct Pythagoras' theorem equation for a triangle. Which of these statements are correct?
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The hypotenuse of the triangle is side W
The hypotenuse of the triangle is side X
Correct answer: The hypotenuse of the triangle is side Y
Side W has length of 32 400 units.
Correct answer: Side W has a length of 180 units.
Q3.
Which of these are correct for this triangle?
An image in a quiz
$$20^2 + a^2 = 17^2$$
Correct answer: $$20^2 = a^2 + 17^2$$
Correct answer: $$a^2 = 20^2 - 17^2$$
Correct answer: $$a = 10.5$$ (to 1 d.p.)
$$a = 26.4$$ (to 1 d.p.)
Q4.
What is the value of $$b$$, rounded to 2 d.p.? $$b=$$ .
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Correct Answer: 26.38, 26.38 cm, 26.38cm
Q5.
The diagonals of this kite have been drawn on. The value of $$x$$ is .
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Correct Answer: 8, 8 cm, 8cm
Q6.
The diagonals of this kite have been drawn on. Which of these statements are correct.
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The two diagonals of a kite intersect to create two acute angles of equal length
Correct answer: The two diagonals of a kite intersect at right angles
Correct answer: $$a° = 38°$$
$$a° = 69°$$
$$a° = 73°$$

6 Questions

Q1.
On this football pitch, the goalkeeper (at point A) wants to kick the ball to a striker (at point E), however the goalkeeper's longest kick is 91 m. Which of these statements are correct?
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The distance between the goalkeeper and the striker is 49.24 metres.
Correct answer: The distance between the goalkeeper and the striker is 92.20 metres (to 2 d.p.).
The distance between the goalkeeper and the striker is 98.49 metres (to 2 d.p.).
The ball the goalkeeper kicks will reach the striker.
Correct answer: The ball the goalkeeper kicks will not reach the striker.
Q2.
A factory produces cylindrical saucepans whose maximum base length is 28 cm. What must the minimum integer height of the saucepan be (in cm) so it can fully submerge a spaghetti noodle.
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15 cm
Correct answer: 16 cm
19 cm
28 cm
32 cm
Q3.
An archer fires an arrow that travels 20 metres to hit a target that is 9 m above ground. The arrow then drops to the ground. The archer must walk m (to 2 d.p.) to pick up the arrow.
Correct Answer: 17.86, 17.86 m, 17.86m, 17.86 metres, 17.86metres
Q4.
An archer fires an arrow at a target 20 m away. The arrow drops 9 m to the ground. Jun uses Pythagoras' theorem to find how far the archer walks to collect the arrow. What assumptions does Jun make?
Correct answer: The arrow travels in a straight line.
The speed of the arrow is constant.
Correct answer: The ground the archer walks on to pick up the arrow is flat.
Correct answer: The archer fires the arrow from the ground.
The accuracy of the archer.
Q5.
The captain (at C) passes the ball to the goalkeeper (at A), who then passes to the midfielder (at D), who then passes to a striker (at F). The total distance the ball travelled is m (to 2 d.p.).
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Correct Answer: 154.45, 154.45 m, 154.45m, 154.45 metres, 154.45metres
Q6.
Two bamboo sticks are placed on the diagonal of this kite to support it during high winds. The length of the vertical bamboo stick is cm (to 2 d.p.).
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 189.29, 189.29 cm, 189.29cm