How to find the length of the hypotenuse of a right triangle : Pythagorean Theorem - GRE Quantitative Reasoning
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Each of the following answer choices lists the side lengths of a different triangle. Which of these triangles does not have a right angle?
Each of the following answer choices lists the side lengths of a different triangle. Which of these triangles does not have a right angle?
cannot be the side lengths of a right triangle. 
does not equal 
. Also, special right triangle 
and 
rules can eliminate all the other choices.
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Daria and Ashley start at the same spot and walk their two dogs to the park, taking different routes. Daria walks 1 mile north and then 1 mile east. Ashley walks her dog on a path going northeast that leads directly to the park. How much further does Daria walk than Ashley?
Daria and Ashley start at the same spot and walk their two dogs to the park, taking different routes. Daria walks 1 mile north and then 1 mile east. Ashley walks her dog on a path going northeast that leads directly to the park. How much further does Daria walk than Ashley?
First let's calculate how far Daria walks. This is simply 1 mile north + 1 mile east = 2 miles. Now let's calculate how far Ashley walks. We can think of this problem using a right triangle. The two legs of the triangle are the 1 mile north and 1 mile east, and Ashley's distance is the diagonal. Using the Pythagorean Theorem we calculate the diagonal as √(12 + 12) = √2. So Daria walked 2 miles, and Ashley walked √2 miles. Therefore the difference is simply 2 – √2 miles.
First let's calculate how far Daria walks. This is simply 1 mile north + 1 mile east = 2 miles. Now let's calculate how far Ashley walks. We can think of this problem using a right triangle. The two legs of the triangle are the 1 mile north and 1 mile east, and Ashley's distance is the diagonal. Using the Pythagorean Theorem we calculate the diagonal as √(12 + 12) = √2. So Daria walked 2 miles, and Ashley walked √2 miles. Therefore the difference is simply 2 – √2 miles.
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Which of the following sets of sides cannnot belong to a right triangle?
Which of the following sets of sides cannnot belong to a right triangle?
To answer this question without plugging all five answer choices in to the Pythagorean Theorem (which takes too long on the GRE), we can use special triangle formulas. Remember that 45-45-90 triangles have lengths of x, x, x√2. Similarly, 30-60-90 triangles have lengths x, x√3, 2x. We should also recall that 3,4,5 and 5,12,13 are special right triangles. Therefore the set of sides that doesn't fit any of these rules is 6, 7, 8.
To answer this question without plugging all five answer choices in to the Pythagorean Theorem (which takes too long on the GRE), we can use special triangle formulas. Remember that 45-45-90 triangles have lengths of x, x, x√2. Similarly, 30-60-90 triangles have lengths x, x√3, 2x. We should also recall that 3,4,5 and 5,12,13 are special right triangles. Therefore the set of sides that doesn't fit any of these rules is 6, 7, 8.
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Max starts at Point A and travels 6 miles north to Point B and then 4 miles east to Point C. What is the shortest distance from Point A to Point C?
Max starts at Point A and travels 6 miles north to Point B and then 4 miles east to Point C. What is the shortest distance from Point A to Point C?
This can be solved with the Pythagorean Theorem.
62 + 42 = _c_2
52 = _c_2
c = √52 = 2√13
This can be solved with the Pythagorean Theorem.
62 + 42 = _c_2
52 = _c_2
c = √52 = 2√13
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Which set of side lengths CANNOT correspond to a right triangle?
Which set of side lengths CANNOT correspond to a right triangle?
Because we are told this is a right triangle, we can use the Pythagorean Theorem, _a_2 + _b_2 = _c_2. You may also remember some of these as special right triangles that are good to memorize, such as 3, 4, 5.
Here, 6, 8, 11 will not be the sides to a right triangle because 62 + 82 = 102.
Because we are told this is a right triangle, we can use the Pythagorean Theorem, _a_2 + _b_2 = _c_2. You may also remember some of these as special right triangles that are good to memorize, such as 3, 4, 5.
Here, 6, 8, 11 will not be the sides to a right triangle because 62 + 82 = 102.
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Kathy and Jill are travelling from their home to the same destination. Kathy travels due east and then after travelling 6 miles turns and travels 8 miles due north. Jill travels directly from her home to the destination. How miles does Jill travel?
Kathy and Jill are travelling from their home to the same destination. Kathy travels due east and then after travelling 6 miles turns and travels 8 miles due north. Jill travels directly from her home to the destination. How miles does Jill travel?
Kathy's path traces the outline of a right triangle with legs of 6 and 8. By using the Pythagorean Theorem
miles
Kathy's path traces the outline of a right triangle with legs of 6 and 8. By using the Pythagorean Theorem
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Square 
is on the coordinate plane, and each side of the square is parallel to either the 
-axis or 
-axis. Point 
has coordinates 
and point 
has the coordinates 
.
Quantity A: 
Quantity B: The distance between points 
and 
Square
Quantity A:
Quantity B: The distance between points
To find the distance between points 
and 
, split the square into two 45-45-90 triangles and find the hypotenuse. The side ratio of the 45-45-90 triangle is 
, so if the sides have a length of 5, the hypotenuse must be 
.
To find the distance between points
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