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1.2: Special Right Triangles

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Learning Objectives

  • Recognize Special Right Triangles.
  • Use the special right triangle rations to solve special right triangles.

30-60-90 Right Triangles

Hypotenuse equals twice the smallest leg, while the larger leg is \sqrt{3} times the smallest.

One of the two special right triangles is called a 30-60-90 triangle, after its three angles.

30-60-90 Theorem: If a triangle has angle measures 30^{\circ}, 60^{\circ} and 90^{\circ}, then the sides are in the ratio x: x\sqrt{3}:2x.

The shorter leg is always x, the longer leg is always x\sqrt{3}, and the hypotenuse is always 2x. If you ever forget these theorems, you can still use the Pythagorean Theorem.

What if you were given a 30-60-90 right triangle and the length of one of its side? How could you figure out the lengths of its other sides?

Example \PageIndex{1}

Find the value of x and y.

Screen Shot 2021-05-29 at 5.34.41 PM.pngFigure \PageIndex{1}

Solution

We are given the longer leg.

\begin{aligned} x\sqrt{3} &=12 \\ x&=12\sqrt{3}\cdot \dfrac{\sqrt{3}}{\sqrt{3}}=12\dfrac{\sqrt{3}}{3}=4\sqrt{3} \\ &\text{The hypotenuse is} \\ y&=2(4\sqrt{3})=8\sqrt{3} \end{aligned}

Example \PageIndex{2}

Find the value of x and y.

Screen Shot 2021-05-29 at 5.35.18 PM.pngFigure \PageIndex{2}

Solution

We are given the hypotenuse.

\begin{aligned} 2x&=16 \\ x&=8 \\ \text{The longer leg is} \\ y&=8\cdot \sqrt{3}&=8\sqrt{3} \end{aligned}

Example \PageIndex{3}

Find the length of the missing sides.

Screen Shot 2021-05-29 at 5.35.37 PM.pngFigure \PageIndex{3}

Solution

We are given the shorter leg. If x=5, then the longer leg, b=5\sqrt{3}, and the hypotenuse, c=2(5)=10.

Example \PageIndex{4}

Find the length of the missing sides.

Screen Shot 2021-05-29 at 5.36.01 PM.pngFigure \PageIndex{4}

Solution

We are given the hypotenuse. 2x=20, so the shorter leg, f=\dfrac{20}{2}=10, and the longer leg, g=10\sqrt{3}.

Example \PageIndex{5}

A rectangle has sides 4 and 4\sqrt{3}. What is the length of the diagonal?

Solution

If you are not given a picture, draw one.

Screen Shot 2021-05-29 at 5.36.38 PM.pngFigure \PageIndex{5}

The two lengths are x, x\sqrt{3}, so the diagonal would be 2x, or 2(4)=8.

If you did not recognize this is a 30-60-90 triangle, you can use the Pythagorean Theorem too.

\begin{aligned} 4^2+(4\sqrt{3})^2&=d^2 \\ 16+48&=d^2 \\ d=\sqrt{64}&=8 \end{aligned}

Review

  1. In a 30-60-90 triangle, if the shorter leg is 5, then the longer leg is __________ and the hypotenuse is ___________.
  2. In a 30-60-90 triangle, if the shorter leg is x, then the longer leg is __________ and the hypotenuse is ___________.
  3. A rectangle has sides of length 6 and 6\sqrt{3}. What is the length of the diagonal?
  4. Two (opposite) sides of a rectangle are 10 and the diagonal is 20. What is the length of the other two sides

45-45-90 Right Triangles

A right triangle with congruent legs and acute angles is an Isosceles Right Triangle. This triangle is also called a 45-45-90 triangle (named after the angle measures).

Screen Shot 2021-05-29 at 5.46.39 PM.pngFigure \PageIndex{6}

\Delta ABC is a right triangle with m\angle A=90^{\circ}, \overline{AB} \cong \overline{AC} and m\angle B=m\angle C=45^{\circ}.

45-45-90 Theorem: If a right triangle is isosceles, then its sides are in the ratio x:x:x\sqrt{2}. For any isosceles right triangle, the legs are x and the hypotenuse is always x\sqrt{2}.

What if you were given an isosceles right triangle and the length of one of its sides? How could you figure out the lengths of its other sides?

Example \PageIndex{6}

Find the length of x.

Screen Shot 2021-05-29 at 5.47.47 PM.png

Solution

Use the x:x:x\sqrt{2} ratio.

Here, we are given the hypotenuse. Solve for x in the ratio.

\begin{aligned} x\sqrt{2} =16\\ x=16\sqrt{2}\cdot \dfrac{\sqrt{2}}{\sqrt{2}}=\dfrac{16\sqrt{2}}{2}=8\sqrt{2} \end{aligned}

Example \PageIndex{7}

Find the length of x, where x is the hypotenuse of a 45-45-90 triangle with leg lengths of 5\sqrt{3}.

Solution

Use the x:x:x\sqrt{2} ratio.

x=5\sqrt{3}\cdot\sqrt{2}=5\sqrt{6}

Example \PageIndex{8}

Find the length of the missing side.

Screen Shot 2021-05-29 at 5.48.19 PM.pngFigure \PageIndex{8}

Solution

Use the x:x:x\sqrt{2} ratio. TV=6 because it is equal to ST. So, SV=6 \cdot \sqrt{2}=6\sqrt{2}.

Example \PageIndex{9}

Find the length of the missing side.

Screen Shot 2021-05-29 at 5.55.13 PM.pngFigure \PageIndex{9}

Solution

Use the x:x:x\sqrt{2} ratio. AB=9\sqrt{2} because it is equal to AC. So, BC=9\sqrt{2}\cdot\sqrt{2}=9\cdot 2=18.

Example \PageIndex{10}

A square has a diagonal with length 10, what are the lengths of the sides?

Solution

Draw a picture.

We know half of a square is a 45-45-90 triangle, so 10=s\sqrt{2}.

\begin{aligned} s\sqrt{2}&=10 \\ s&=10\sqrt{2}\cdot \dfrac{\sqrt{2}}{\sqrt{2}}=\dfrac{10\sqrt{2}}{2}=5\sqrt{2} \end{aligned}

Review

  1. In an isosceles right triangle, if a leg is 4, then the hypotenuse is __________.
  2. In an isosceles right triangle, if a leg is x, then the hypotenuse is __________.
  3. A square has sides of length 15. What is the length of the diagonal?
  4. A square’s diagonal is 22. What is the length of each side?

Resources

Vocabulary

Term Definition
30-60-90 Theorem If a triangle has angle measures of 30, 60, and 90 degrees, then the sides are in the ratio x : x \sqrt{3} : 2x
45-45-90 Theorem For any isosceles right triangle, if the legs are x units long, the hypotenuse is always x\sqrt{2}.
Hypotenuse The hypotenuse of a right triangle is the longest side of the right triangle. It is across from the right angle.
Legs of a Right Triangle The legs of a right triangle are the two shorter sides of the right triangle. Legs are adjacent to the right angle.
Pythagorean Theorem The Pythagorean Theorem is a mathematical relationship between the sides of a right triangle, given by a^2+b^2=c^2, where a and b are legs of the triangle and c is the hypotenuse of the triangle.
Radical The \sqrt{}, or square root, sign.

Additional Resources

Interactive Element

Video: Solving Special Right Triangles

Activities: 30-60-90 Right Triangles Discussion Questions

Study Aids: Special Right Triangles Study Guide

Practice: 30-60-90 Right Triangles 45-45-90 Right Triangles

Real World: Fighting the War on Drugs Using Geometry and Special Triangles


This page titled 1.2: Special Right Triangles is shared under a CK-12 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by CK-12 Foundation.

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