7-3 Special Right Triangles

a2 + b2 = c2
122 + 122 = c2
45°
288 = c2
√288 = c
12
12√2 = c

45°
12
In any 45°- 45°- 90° right triangle:
--both legs are always the same size
--the hypotenuse is always (√2) times the
length of either leg

√2
1
1
 Example:
• In this 45-45-90 triangle, what is the length
of the hypotenuse?

4.5(√2)

4.5 4.5√2
 EXAMPLE:
• In this 45-45-90 triangle, what is the
length of one of the sides?
44 = x√2
(√2) 44 = x
(√2)
• √2
44 44√2 = x
x
2
22√2 = x
 30°- 60°- 90° Triangle is
also really special !
30° -The Hypotenuse is always
TWICE the size of the
shorter leg.

12 -The longer leg is always

6√3
(√3) times the size of the
shorter leg.

6 60°
 HOMEWORK:
7-3
pg. 360
#12-28 Evens
36-40
43, 44,
51-53