Is it Right
Basic Pythagoras
Can you find the triangle?
Worded Problems
100

Is a triangle with the following side lengths a right angled triangle?

3cm , 4cm and 5cm

Yes, these side lengths will create a right angled triangle. 

100

Find the hypotenuse

3.6 m

100

Find the length of the diagonal steel brace required to support a wall of length 3.8m and height of 3.1m. Give your answer correct to one decimal place

The brace is 4.9m long

100

A helicopter hovers at a height of 150 m above the ground and is a horizontal distance of 200 m from a beacon on the ground. Find the direct distance of the helicopter from the beacon.

The helicopter is 250m from the beacon

200

Is a triangle with the following side lengths a right angled triangle?

6m, 7m, 8m

No, these measurements don't make a right triangle

200

Find the Hypotenuse

2.2m

200

Find the length of the longest rod that will fit inside a cylinder of height 2.1 m and with circular end surface of 1.2 m diameter. Give your answer correct to one decimal place. 

The rod is 2.4m long

200

Iain’s car has run out of petrol. He walks 12 km west and then 9 km south looking for a petrol station. How far is he away from his car?

Iain is 15km from his car

300

Is a triangle with the following side lengths a right angled triangle?

1mm, 6mm, and 7mm 

No

300

Find the value of c

c = 5.8

300

Find the direct distance between the points A and B

The direct distance is 6.3m 

300

Two flag posts of height 12m and 17m are erected 20m apart. Find the length of the string in metres (l) needed to join the tops of the two posts, correct to one decimal place.

The length of string needs to be 20.6m in length. 

400

Is a triangle with the following side lengths a right angled triangle?

10cm, 3cm, and 10.5cm

Yes

400

Find a value of b

b = 8m

400

Find the direct distance between the points A and B (2 d.p)

The distance between the points A and B is 5.95m

400

In an army navigation exercise, a group of soldiers hiked due south from base camp for 2.5 km to a water hole. From there, they turned 45° to the left, to head south-east for 1.6 km to a resting point. When the soldiers were at the resting point, how far were they in a straight line from the base camp? (correct to one decimal place)

They were 3.8km from the base camp

500

Is a triangle with the following side lengths a right angled triangle?

1.2m, 150cm and 190cm

Yes

500

Find the value of b

b = 12m

500

Find the direct distance between points A and B (2 d.p)

The direct distance between A and B is 5.68m

500

A 100 m radio mast is supported by six cables in two sets of three cables. They are anchored to the ground at an equal distance from the mast. The top set of three cables is attached at a point 20 m below the top of the mast. Each cable in the lower set of three cables is 60 m long and is attached at a height of 30 m above the ground. If all the cables have to be replaced, find the total length of cable required. Give your answer correct to two decimal places.

466.18m of cable is required