Working With Triangles

The Pythagorean Theorem - states that if a and b are the length of the legs of a right triangle, and c is the length of the hypotenuse, then the square of the length of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares of the lengths of the two legs,

c2 = a2 + b2

We can also say that if c2  a2 + b2 , then the triangle is not a right triangle.

Distance Formula:

The distance between any two points (x1, y1 ) and (x2, y2 ) on a coordinate plane is:

Similar Triangles:

  • The angels of one triangle and the corresponding angels of a second triangle have equal measures;

  • The measures of the sides of the two triangles are proportional.

Trigonometric Ratios - the ratios of the measures of two sides of a right triangle.

 

 

 

 

sine of A = measure of leg oppositeA

  measure of hypotenuse

 

cosine ofA = measure of leg adjacent to A

        measure of hypotenuse

 

tangent of A =   measure of leg oppositeA