PSAT Math : Triangles

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #13 : How To Find The Length Of The Hypotenuse Of A Right Triangle : Pythagorean Theorem

Paul leaves his home and jogs 3 miles due north and 4 miles due west. If Paul could walk a straight line from his current position back to his house, how far, in miles, is Paul from home?

Possible Answers:

25

√14

5

7

4

Correct answer:

5

Explanation:

By using the Pythagorean Theorem, we can solve for the distance “as the crow flies” from Paul to his home:

32 + 42 = x2

9 + 16 = x2

25 = x2

5 = x

Example Question #61 : Geometry

Given a right triangle where the two legs have lengths of 3 and 4 respectively, what is the length of the hypotenuse? 

Possible Answers:

4

5

25

9

3

Correct answer:

5

Explanation:

The hypotenuse can be found using Pythagorean Theorem, which is a+ b= c2, so we plug in a = 3 and b = 4 to get c.

c2  =25, so c = 5

Example Question #482 : Geometry

Triangle

Length AB = 4

Length BC = 3

If a similar triangle has a hypotenuse length of 25, what are the lengths of its two legs?

Possible Answers:

15 and 20

5 and 25

20 and 25

15 and 25

3 and 4

Correct answer:

15 and 20

Explanation:

Similar triangles are in proportion.

Use Pythagorean Theorem to solve for AC:

Pythagorean Theorem:  AB2 + BC2 = AC2

42 + 32 = AC2

16 + 9 = AC2

25 = AC2

AC = 5

If the similar triangle's hypotenuse is 25, then the proportion of the sides is AC/25 or  5/25 or 1/5.

Two legs then are 5 times longer than AB or BC:

5 * (AB) = 5 * (4) = 20

5 * (BC) = 5 * (3) = 15

Example Question #62 : Geometry

If the base of a right triangle is 5 cm long and the height of the triangle is 7 cm longer than the base, what is the length of the third side of the triangle in cm?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Find the height of the triangle 

Use the Pythagorean Theorem to solve for the length of the third side, or hypotenuse.

 

Example Question #484 : Geometry

Screen_shot_2013-09-16_at_11.16.22_am

Given the right triangle in the diagram, what is the length of the hypotenuse?

 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To find the length of the hypotenuse use the Pythagorean Theorem:

 Where  and  are the legs of the triangle, and  is the hypotenuse.

The hypotenuse is 10 inches long.

 

Example Question #22 : How To Find The Length Of The Hypotenuse Of A Right Triangle : Pythagorean Theorem

Righttriangle

Triangle ABC is a right triangle. If the length of side A = 3 inches and C = 5 inches, what is the length of side B?  

Possible Answers:

1/2 inches

4 inches

4.5 inches

6 inches

1 inches

Correct answer:

4 inches

Explanation:

Using the Pythagorean Theorem, we know that .

This gives: 

Subtracting 9 from both sides of the equation gives: 

 inches

 

Righttriangle

Example Question #63 : Geometry

Righttriangle

Triangle ABC is a right triangle. If the length of side A = 8 inches and B = 11 inches, find the length of the hypoteneuse (to the nearest tenth). 

Possible Answers:

13.6 inches

184 inches

185 inches

14.2 inches

13.7 inches

Correct answer:

13.6 inches

Explanation:

Using the Pythagrean Theorem, we know that .

This tells us:

Taking the square root of both sides, we find that  inches

Example Question #486 : Geometry

Righttriangle

Given:

A = 6 feet

B = 9 feet

What is the length of the hypoteneuse of the triangle (to the nearest tenth)?

Possible Answers:

10.8 feet

10.6 feet

10.2 feet

10.5 feet

10.1 feet

Correct answer:

10.8 feet

Explanation:

Using the Pythagrean Theorem, we know that .

This tells us:

Taking the square root of both sides, we find that 

Example Question #64 : Geometry

Righttriangle

Given:

A = 2 miles

B = 3 miles

What is the length of the hypoteneuse of triangle ABC, to the nearest tenth? 

Possible Answers:

3.7 miles

3.6 miles

3.2 miles

3.5 miles

3.4 miles

Correct answer:

3.6 miles

Explanation:

Using the Pythagrean Theorem, we know that .

This tells us:

Taking the square root of both sides, we find that 

Example Question #491 : Geometry

Given that two sides of a right triangle measure 2 feet and 3 feet, respectively, with a hypoteneuse of x, what is the perimeter of this right triangle (to the nearest tenth)?

Possible Answers:

3.6 feet

6.4 feet

18 feet

8.6 feet

9.4 feet

Correct answer:

8.6 feet

Explanation:

Using the Pythagrean Theorem, we know that .

This tells us:

Taking the square root of both sides, we find that 

To find the perimeter, we add the side lengths together, which gives us that the perimeter is: 

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