Question

1. If I know the lengths of two sides of a right triangle, how do I find the third?
2. Could I find the two missing side lengths of a right triangle if I only know one side length and one angle measure (other than the 90 degree angle)?
3. Could I find the two missing angle measures if I know some of the side lengths of a right triangle?
4. What makes a triangle a “special” right triangle? How can special right triangles help me find side lengths?

Answer 1

1. Yes, by using Pythagoras Theorem. \[a=\sqrt{b^2+c^2}\]
2. Yes, by using trigonometric functions.

Answer 2

3. Again, you can find the angles by using trigonometric functions.
\[\sin \theta= \frac{ \perp }{ hyp }\]
\[\cos \theta= \frac{ base }{ hyp }\]
\[\tan \theta= \frac{ \perp }{ base }\]

Answer 3

Special right triangles have these fixed angles:
1) 45-45-90
2) 30-60-90