A B C 
Homework

In all four parts of the problem, we draw a diagonal of length d inside the square of side length a, dividing the square into two congruent right triangles (see picture). Using the Pythagorean theorem, we get a² + a² = d², or .

So we get the following:

a.	feet
b.	feet
c.	feet
d.	feet

Problem C2

All the segments are right triangles, so we can apply the Pythagorean theorem. The smallest one has both legs of length 1, so its hypotenuse has length (as in part (a) of Problem C1). The next smallest triangle has legs of length 1 and , so its hypotenuse has length . Similarly, the length of the hypotenuse of the next smallest triangle is . Following the pattern, the length of the hypotenuse of the nth triangle is , so the last hypotenuse has length .

<< back to Problem C2

Problem C3

Let O be the point of intersection of the line segment AB and its perpendicular bisector. The lengths AO and OB are congruent since O bisects AB. The angles AOP and POB are both right angles since the bisector is perpendicular. So, by using the Pythagorean theorem, we get

AP² = AO² + OP²

By a similar argument we can say that

We know, however, that AO and BO are the same length, since O is the midpoint of segment AB. This means that the two values under the square root are the same, and AP must be the same length as BP.

This can also be proven with SAS triangle congruence, which you first saw in the Session 2 Homework. It states that if two triangles have two sides equal in length and the angles between those sides are equal in their degree measure, then the two triangles are congruent. We know that the lengths AO and OB are congruent since O bisects AB. We also know that they share side OP. The angle between those two sides in each triangle is 90° since the bisector is perpendicular to AB. Thus, the two triangles are congruent, and so AP and BP are the same length.

<< back to Problem C3

Problem C4

a. The distance we want is the length of the line segment AB, which happens to be a hypotenuse of an isosceles right triangle whose legs have a length of 1 unit. Using the Pythagorean theorem, the distance we get is .

b. From the point A = (2,3), draw a line perpendicular to the x-axis. Similarly, from B = (-1,-1), draw a line perpendicular to the y-axis. We will call the point where the two lines intersect point C. Then ABC is a right triangle whose hypotenuse AB is the distance between A and B. Using the Pythagorean theorem, we can calculate the distance as follows:

c. Using the Pythagorean theorem, we can calculate the distance as follows:

d. Using the Pythagorean theorem, we can calculate the distance as follows:

e. Using the Pythagorean theorem, we can calculate the distance as follows:

f. Using the Pythagorean theorem, we can calculate the distance as follows:

<< back to Problem C4

Problem C5

a. The distance is 8 units. See picture.

b. The distance is 20 units. See picture.

c. The distance is |b - a| units, where the vertical bars indicate absolute value. See picture.

d. The distance is |b - a| units. See picture.

<< back to Problem C5

Problem C6

Repeating the procedure from Problem C4, we see that the distance is as follows:

Since you get an answer that is non-negative whenever you square a number, it's standard to write (x₂-x₁)² rather than |x₂-x₁|². The two expressions always give the same answer.

<< back to Problem C6

Home | Catalog | About Us | Search | Contact Us | Site Map

Tweet |

© Annenberg Foundation 2013. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy