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Special right trianglesThere are two types of special right triangles and they have the following properties: The first one is the 45°-45°-90° triangle  In this triangle, the important thing to remember is that the legs have equal length. Let's call the longest side Hypothenuse. Using the pythagorean theorem, we get Hypothenuse2 = Leg2 + Leg2 Hypothenuse2 = 2×Leg2 Let's take the square root of both sides √(Hypothenuse2) = √(2×Leg2) Hypothenuse = √(2)×√(Leg2) So, the formula is: Hypothenuse = √(2)×(Leg) Now, what's the point of having a formula like that? Well, it is a shortcut to solve problems. If the legs of a right triangle are equal, you can quickly find the length of the legs or the hypothenuse given the length of the hypothenuse or the length of a leg respectively Example #1: The legs of an isosceles right triangle measure 10 inches. Find the length of the hypothenuse. Since the triangle is isosceles, the legs are equal and we can use the formula Hypothenuse = √(2)×(Leg) Hypothenuse = √(2)×(10)= 14.1421 inches The second type of special right triangles is the 30°-60°-90° triangle  Since the Short Leg is 1/2 the Hypothenuse, the Hypothenuse is 2 × Short Leg Using the pythagorean theorem, we get Hypothenuse2 = (Short Leg)2 + (Long Leg)2 (2 × Short Leg)2 = (Short Leg)2 + (Long Leg)2 (2 × Short Leg)×(2 × Short Leg) = (Short Leg)2 + (Long Leg)2 (4 × (Short Leg)2) = (Short Leg)2 + (Long Leg)2 4 × (Short Leg)2 − (Short Leg)2 = (Short Leg)2 − (Short Leg)2 + (Long Leg)2 4 × (Short Leg)2 − (Short Leg)2 = 0 + (Long Leg)2 4 × (Short Leg)2 − (Short Leg)2 = (Long Leg)2 3 × (Short Leg)2 = (Long Leg)2 Let's take the square root of both sides √(3 × Short Leg2) = √((Long Leg)2) (√3) × √((Short Leg)2) = Long Leg (√3) × (Short Leg) = Long Leg So, the formula for the long leg is: Long Leg = (√3) × (Short Leg) Since the short leg = 1/2(Hypothenuse), Long Leg is also equal to: (√3) × 1/2(Hypothenuse) Example #2: The Hypothenuse of a 30°-60°-90° triangle is equal to 20 inches. Find the Short Leg and the Long Leg. Short Leg = 1/2 × (Hypothenuse) = 1/2 × 20 = 10 inches Long leg = (√3) × Short Leg = √3) × 10 = 17.32 inches Send me questions here about special right triangles
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