Nathaniel's Pythagoras Growing Post

Third Growing Post!

What Is A Pythagorean Triple?

A Pythagorean Triple is three square numbers in which when two square numbers are added they equal another square number. The formula being Asquared + Bsquared = Csquared. Asquared and Bsquared are the legs of the trianged. Csquared is the hypotenuse.

For example 3squared + 4squared = 5squared. Which equals 9 + 16 = 25

Another Pythagorean Triple is 5squared + 12squared = 13squared. Which equals 25 + 144 = 169

How to find a missing leg/hypotenuse

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How to solve a word problem!

Here is a word problem that I will use to help me explain how to solve a word problem.

You picked up a ground ball at first base, and you see the other team's player running towards third base. How far do you have to throw the ball to get it from first base to third base, and throw the runner out.

There was also a picture



The key thing you look for is numbers! They usually are very important. The first thing you should underline is First Base because thats where you are. And then third base you underline because thats where the other person is going to. And the question, you have to find out how far you have to throw the ball. The picture shows that from 1st base to 2nd base is 90 feet, and 2nd base to third base is 90 feet. If you look at it, it is a right triangle! The legs being 90 feet and the hypotenuse being first base to third base! All you have to do is solve for the hypotenuse.

a = 90 feet
b = 90 feet
c = ?

a2 + b2 = c2
90squared + 90squared = c2
8100 + 8100 = c2
16200 = c2
square root of 16200 = c
127.28 = c

My Own Word Problem!

Stretch Armstrong sees a little boy crying because his ball got stuck on the roof, so he decides to help get the ball down. He is 10 feet from the wall, and the roof is 40 feet high, how far does Stretch Armstrong have to stretch his arm to reach the ball if his arm is 20 feet high.