3.1 Right Triangle Geometry Activity

Name: ______

Materials needed:

2 length of 2x4 about 8 ft in lengthpencil and eraser

Tape measure that has standard and metric on itcalculator

#1) Lay out the two lengths of 2x4’s to form a right angle. Do this to the best of your ability given whatever tools you have (you may not have any). Mark off the lengths of the legs with the dimensions given in Table 1. Next, measure the hypotenuse to the nearest 1/8 in. Put this anser in column 3 of Table 1. Be careful to use the inside edges of the boards, not the outside edges.

NO DECIMALS ALLOWED!

TABLE 1
Data Column1 / Data Column2 / Data Column3 / Data Column4
SET UP / leg (a) / leg (b) / hypotenuse (c)
(measured), answer in feet inches and also in just inches / hypotenuse (c)
(calculated, can be done at home), answer in feet inches and also in just inches
#1 / 2ft-6in / 3ft-6in / _____ft-_____in
______in / _____ft-_____in
______in
#2 / 3ft / 4ft / _____ft-_____in
______in / _____ft-_____in
______in
#3 / 80 in / 63 in / _____ft-_____in
______in / _____ft-_____in
______in
#4 / 5 ft / 6 ft / _____ft-_____in
______in / _____ft-_____in
______in

Pythagorean Theorem a2 + b2 = c2

This theorem applies to any and all right triangles.

#2) Use what we learned in Chapter 2 about solving/isolating a variable when given a formula. Start with the Pythagorean Theorem and then isolate the appropriate variable as listed in the table below. For you to get credit on this part of the activity, you must show your work in a top down manner.

solve for “a”
(one leg of a right triangle) / solve for “b”
(one leg of a right triangle) / solve for “c” (hypotenuse –
the longest side of a right triangle)

#3) Use the equation you generated for the hypotenuse (from the 3rd column in the above table) to now calculate the hypotenuse from the 2x4s you set up. Put this calculated answer in Table 1 column 4. Give your answer to the nearest 1/8 in. If you want credit for this part of the activity, you must show your work in the space below.

#4) Use the 2x4s you laid out to measure the missing lengths and fill in Table 2A to the nearest 1/8 in. Pay close attention to the units in the table.

SET UP
/ TABLE 2A - MEASURED
Data Column1 / Data Column2 / Data Column3
leg (a) / leg (b) / hypotenuse
#1 / 4ft
______in / _____ft-_____in
______in / 72 in
#2 / _____ft-_____in
______in / 3ft-2in
______in / 5 ft 8 in
______in
#3 / 90in / _____ft-_____in
______in / 122 in
#4 / _____ft-_____in
______in / 45in / 4 ft 9 in
______in

#5) The table below (2B) is the same as Table 21, except you are to calculate (not measure) the missing lengths to the nearest 1/8 in. Do this using the equations you found in part #2. In order to get credit for this part of the activity, you must include your work.

SET UP / TABLE 2B – CALCULATED
Data Column1 / Data Column2 / Data Column3
leg (a) / leg (b) / hypotenuse
#1 / 4ft
______in / _____ft-_____in
______in / 72 in
#2 / _____ft-_____in
______in / 3ft-2in
______in / 5 ft 8 in
______in
#3 / 90in / _____ft-_____in
______in / 122 in
#4 / _____ft-_____in
______/ 45in / 4 ft 9 in
______in

Work for setup:

#1

#2

#3

#4