In the last example, What do you mean by 'SAT provides us'? Does the question provide it is a 45-45-90 triangle. If it does not provide, it could also be 30-60-90 triangle. How do we know?

The explanation is talking about the formula sheet that you get to reference during the math sections. It contains things like area and volume formulas, as well as the side-length ratios for 45-45-90 and 30-60-90 right triangles. So, if you didn't feel like memorizing the ratios, or forgot in the heat of the moment, you can always check the formula sheet at the front of the section. From the information that the question gives you, you can conclude that the triangle is 45-45-90. The hypotenuse of the right triangle is sqrt(2) * AB, which is the same length as one of the legs of the triangle. Combine this with the information that the triangle is a right triangle, and you have enough information to be able to state that the triangle is 45-45-90, and thus know all of its angle measures.

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SAT (Fall 2023)

Course: SAT (Fall 2023) > Unit 6

Lesson 6: Additional Topics in Math: lessons by skill

Right triangle word problems | Lesson

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What are right triangle word problems, and how frequently do they appear on the test?

Right triangle word problems on the SAT ask us to apply the properties of right triangles to calculate side lengths and angle measures.

In this lesson, we'll learn to:

Use the Pythagorean theorem and recognize Pythagorean triples
Use trigonometric ratios to calculate side lengths
Recognize special right triangles and use them to find side lengths and angle measures

On your official SAT, you'll likely see 1 question that is a right triangle word problem.

This lesson builds upon the Right triangle trigonometry skill.

You can learn anything. Let's do this!

How do I calculate side lengths using the Pythagorean theorem?

Intro to the Pythagorean theorem

Khan Academy video wrapper

Intro to the Pythagorean theoremSee video transcript

The Pythagorean theorem

In a right triangle, the square of the hypotenuse length is equal to the sum of the squares of the leg lengths.

At the beginning of each SAT math section, you'll find this diagram provided as reference:

c^{2} = a^{2} + b^{2}

Calculating missing side lengths in right triangles

With the Pythagorean theorem, we can calculate any side length in a right triangle when given the other two.

Let's look at some examples!

What is the length of

\overset{―}{B C}

in the figure above?

[Show me!]

What is the length of

\overset{―}{E F}

in the figure above?

[Show me!]

Recognizing Pythagorean triples

Pythagorean triples are integers

a

b

, and

c

that satisfy the Pythagorean theorem. For example, the side lengths of the right triangle shown below form a Pythagorean triple:

Each side of the triangle has an integer length, and

5^{2} = 3^{2} + 4^{2}

3

4

5

is the most commonly used Pythagorean triple on the SAT. All triangles similar to it also have side lengths that are multiples of the

3

4

5

Pythagorean triple, like

6

8

10

9

12

15

30

40

50

Being able to recognize Pythagorean triples can save you valuable time on test day. For example, if you see a right triangle with a hypotenuse length of

15

and a leg length of

12

, recognizing it's a

9

12

15

triangle will give you the missing side length,

9

, without having to calculate it using the Pythagorean theorem.

Less frequently used Pythagorean triples include

5

12

13

and

7

24

25

Try it!

try: use pythagorean triples and similarity to find side lengths

In the figure above,

\overset{―}{B E}

is parallel to

\overset{―}{C D}

What is the length of

\overset{―}{B E}

C D = 6

, what is the length of

\overset{―}{A C}

How do I use trigonometric ratios and the properties of special right triangles to solve for unknown values?

Recognizing side length ratios

Using trigonometric ratios to find side lengths

Sine, cosine, and tangent represent ratios of right triangle side lengths. This means if we have the value of the sine, cosine, or tangent of an angle and one side length, we can find the other side lengths.

Let's look at an example!

In the figure above,

\tan (C) = \frac{4}{7}

. What is the length of

\overset{―}{A C}

[Show me!]

Using special right triangles to determine side lengths and angle measures

Special right triangles are right triangles with specific angle measure and side length relationships. At the beginning of each SAT math section, the following two special right triangles are provided as reference:

This means when we see a special right triangle with unknown side lengths, we know how the side lengths are related to each other. For example, if we have a

30^{\circ}

60^{\circ}

90^{\circ}

triangle and the length of the shorter leg is

3

, we know that the length of the hypotenuse is

2 (3) = 6

and the length of the longer leg is

3 \sqrt{3}

We can also identify the angle measures of special right triangles when we spot specific side length relationships. For example, if we're given a right triangle with identical leg lengths, we know it's a

45^{\circ}

45^{\circ}

90^{\circ}

special right triangle.

Try it!

try: recognize trigonometric ratios and special right triangles

Right triangle

A B C

is shown in the figure above. The value of

\sin (A)

\frac{1}{2}

What is the length of

\overset{―}{A C}

What is the measure of angle

C

^{\circ}

Your turn!

Practice: find segment length

In the figure above,

\overset{―}{B D}

is parallel to

\overset{―}{A E}

. What is the length of

\overset{―}{D E}

Practice: find side length

In the figure above,

\sin (C) = \frac{3}{5}

. What is the length of

\overset{―}{B C}

Practice: find angle measure

In quadrilateral

A B C D

above,

\overset{―}{A D}

is parallel to

\overset{―}{B C}

and

C D = \sqrt{2} A B

. What is the measure of angle

C

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eaintthawthawaung2000
Posted 3 years ago. Direct link to eaintthawthawaung2000's post “In the last example, What...”
In the last example, What do you mean by 'SAT provides us'? Does the question provide it is a 45-45-90 triangle. If it does not provide, it could also be 30-60-90 triangle. How do we know?
Button navigates to signup pageButton navigates to signup page
(4 votes)
Answer
- Hecretary Bird
  Posted 3 years ago. Direct link to Hecretary Bird's post “The explanation is talkin...”
  The explanation is talking about the formula sheet that you get to reference during the math sections. It contains things like area and volume formulas, as well as the side-length ratios for 45-45-90 and 30-60-90 right triangles. So, if you didn't feel like memorizing the ratios, or forgot in the heat of the moment, you can always check the formula sheet at the front of the section.
  From the information that the question gives you, you can conclude that the triangle is 45-45-90. The hypotenuse of the right triangle is sqrt(2) * AB, which is the same length as one of the legs of the triangle. Combine this with the information that the triangle is a right triangle, and you have enough information to be able to state that the triangle is 45-45-90, and thus know all of its angle measures.
  Button navigates to signup page
  (14 votes)
Christopher927
Posted a year ago. Direct link to Christopher927's post “For the SAT, would the ri...”
For the SAT, would the right triangle word problems be in the calculator or non-calculator section?
Button navigates to signup pageComment on Christopher927's post “For the SAT, would the ri...”
(5 votes)
Answer
M.Salman Kamal
Posted 3 months ago. Direct link to M.Salman Kamal's post “(taking D side and it has...”
(taking D side and it has 90 degrees angle) so the opposite side should be perpendicular (D being base) or will remain hypotenuse (as for any other side than 90 degrees)?
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(2 votes)
Answer
MathTutorJamil
Posted 4 months ago. Direct link to MathTutorJamil's post “give me a similar problem”
give me a similar problem
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(2 votes)
Answer
danielaiworo35
Posted 9 months ago. Direct link to danielaiworo35's post “I need help on the topics...”
I need help on the topics of
Recognizing Pythagorean Triples
Recognizing side length ratios
Using trigonometric ratios to find side lengths
Using special right triangles to determine side lengths and angle measures
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(2 votes)
Answer