Cluster 2: Understand and apply the Pythagorean Theorem. (Major Cluster)Archived

Students are asked to determine the length of a side of a right triangle in a real-world problem.

Type: Formative Assessment

Students are asked to find the distance between two points in the coordinate plane.

Type: Formative Assessment

Students are asked to determine the length of a side of a right triangle in a real-world problem.

Type: Formative Assessment

Students are asked to explain how a pair of figures demonstrates the Pythagorean Theorem and its converse.

Type: Formative Assessment

Students are asked to determine the length of a side of a right triangle in a real-world problem.

Type: Formative Assessment

Students are asked to determine the length of a side of a right triangle in a real-world problem.

Type: Formative Assessment

Students are asked to explain the steps of a proof of the Pythagorean Theorem that uses similar triangles.

Type: Formative Assessment

Students are asked to explain the steps of a proof of the converse of the Pythagorean Theorem.

Type: Formative Assessment

Students are asked to find the distance between two points in the coordinate plane.

Type: Formative Assessment

Students are asked to determine the lengths of the sides of a right triangle in the coordinate plane given the coordinates of its vertices.

Type: Formative Assessment

Students are asked to determine the length of each side of a right triangle in the coordinate plane given the coordinates of its vertices.

Type: Formative Assessment

Students will complete a hands-on activity to discover a geometric proof of the Pythagorean Theorem, and they will use and apply the Pythagorean Theorem to solve examples and real-world situations.

Type: Lesson Plan

Students will complete a hands-on activity to discover a geometric proof of the Pythagorean Theorem, and they will use and apply the Pythagorean Theorem to solve examples and real-world situations.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this first of three lessons on the Pythagorean Theorem students work to prove the Pythagorean theorem and verify that the theorem works.

Type: Lesson Plan

Students are guided through a short history of Pythagoras and a discovery of the Pythagorean Theorem using the squaring of the sides of a right triangle.

Type: Lesson Plan

This set of geometry challenges focuses on using Pythagorean Theorem to find missing triangle side lengths and to draw triangles. Students problem solve and think as they learn to code using block coding software.  Student will need to use their knowledge of the attributes of polygons and mathematical principals of geometry to accomplish the given challenges. The challenges start out fairly simple and move to more complex situations in which students can explore at their own pace or work as a team. Computer Science standards are seamlessly intertwined with the math standards while providing “Step it up!” and “Jump it up!” opportunities to increase rigor.

Type: Lesson Plan

Students will complete a hands-on activity to discover a geometric proof of the Pythagorean Theorem, and they will use and apply the Pythagorean Theorem to solve examples and real-world situations.

Type: Lesson Plan

This lesson serves as an introductory lesson on the Pythagorean Theorem and its converse. It has a hands-on discovery component. This lesson includes worksheets that are practical for individual or cooperative learning strategies. The worksheets contain prior knowledge exercises, practice exercises and a summative assignment.

Type: Lesson Plan

This lesson covers the use of the Pythagorean theorem to find the lengths of the sides of right triangles, as well as to determine whether a triangle has one right triangle with the converse of this theorem. The lesson only deals with two-dimensional figures.

Type: Lesson Plan

This two-day lesson teaches students to use the Pythagorean Theorem with simple right triangles on the first day, then progresses to using the theorem to find the distance between two points on a coordinate graph.

Type: Lesson Plan

This lesson unit is intended to help you assess how well students are able to use the area of right triangles to deduce the areas of other shapes, use dissection methods for finding areas, organize an investigation systematically and collect data and deduce a generalizable method for finding lengths and areas (The Pythagorean Theorem.)

Type: Lesson Plan

Students will create origami boats and use them to make a net drawing. The drawing will be labeled with measurements, based on the number of squares on the graph for units, such that the students will use the Pythagorean Theorem to find several of the lengths. This is part 2 of a lesson plan for the Pythagorean Theorem. The resource, Applying the Pythagorean Theorem Part 1, with ID #48973, lays the groundwork for this exercise.

Type: Lesson Plan

This lesson applies the Pythagorean Theorem and teaches the foundations of the Pythagorean Theorem. It is part 1 of 2 lessons. The second lesson, Origami Boats - Pythagorean Theorem in the real world, Resource ID 49055, provides an application to use the Pythagorean Theorem for distance in the coordinate plane.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this activity the students will rank different locations for a bike club's next destination. In order to do so, the students must use Pythagorean Theorem and well as analyze data of the quantitative and qualitative type.

Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. Click here to learn more about MEAs and how they can transform your classroom.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this first of three lessons on the Pythagorean Theorem students work to prove the Pythagorean theorem and verify that the theorem works.

Type: Lesson Plan

Using different activities, students will find real life uses for the Pythagorean Theorem.

Type: Lesson Plan

Students are guided through a short history of Pythagoras and a discovery of the Pythagorean Theorem using the squaring of the sides of a right triangle.

Type: Lesson Plan

Use the Pythagorean Theorem to find the legs of a right triangle in mathematical and real worlds contexts in this interactive tutorial.

This is part 3 in a 3-part series. Click below to explore the other tutorials in the series. 

• Pythagorean Theorem: Part 1
• Pythagorean Theorem: Part 2

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Use the Pythagorean Theorem to find the hypotenuse of a right triangle in mathematical and real worlds contexts in this interactive tutorial.

This is part 2 in a 3-part series. Click below to explore the other tutorials in the series. 

• Pythagorean Theorem: Part 1
• Pythagorean Theorem: Part 3

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Learn what the Pythagorean Theorem and its converse mean, and what Pythagorean Triples are in this interactive tutorial.

This is part 1 in a 3-part series. Click below to explore the other tutorials in the series. 

• Pythagorean Theorem: Part 2
• Pythagorean Theorem: Part 3

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Don't be a square! Learn about how even grids help archaeologists track provenience!

Download the CPALMS Perspectives video student note taking guide.

Type: Perspectives Video: Expert

In this video, Jim Cox describes a sampling method for estimating the density of dead trees in a forest ecosystem.

Download the CPALMS Perspectives video student note taking guide.

Type: Perspectives Video: Professional/Enthusiast

Find out how math and technology can help you (try to) get away from civilization.

Download the CPALMS Perspectives video student note taking guide.

Type: Perspectives Video: Professional/Enthusiast

This lesson teaches students about the history of the Pythagorean theorem, along with proofs and applications. It is geared toward high school Geometry students that have completed a year of Algebra and addresses the following national standards of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning: 1) Analyze characteristics and properties of two- and three-dimensional geometric shapes and develop mathematical arguments about geometric relationships; 2) Use visualization, spatial reasoning, and geometric modeling to solve problems; 3) Understand and apply basic and advanced properties of the concepts of geometry; and 4) Use the Pythagorean theorem and its converse and properties of special right triangles to solve mathematical and real-world problems. The video portion is about thirty minutes, and with breaks could be completed in 50 minutes. (You may consider completing over two classes, particularly if you want to allow more time for activities or do some of the enrichment material). These activities could be done individually, in pairs, or groups. I think 2 or 3 students is optimal. The materials required for the activities include scissors, tape, string and markers.

Type: Presentation/Slideshow

This resource can be used to introduce the Pythagorean Theorem to students. It provides sketches, applets, examples and easy-to-understand visual proofs as well as an algebra proof for the theorem.

It also includes interactive multiple choice practice questions on solving for a side of a right triangle, and applications involving right triangles, as well as a hands-on activity for students to do that allows them to create their own proof.

Type: Presentation/Slideshow

In this resource, students will determine the volumes of three different shaped drinking glasses. They will need prior knowledge with volume formulas for cylinders, cones, and spheres, as well as experience with equation solving, simplifying square roots, and applying the Pythagorean theorem.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

This task provides an opportunity to apply the Pythagorean theorem to multiple triangles in order to determine the length of the hypotenuse; the converse of the Pythagorean theorem is also required in order to conclude that certain angles are right angles.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

The purpose of this task is for students to use the Pythagorean Theorem as a problem-solving tool to calculate the distance between two points on a grid. In this case the grid is also a map, and the street names can be viewed as defining a coordinate system (although the coordinate system is not needed to solve the problem).

Type: Problem-Solving Task

This task is for instruction purposes. Part (b) is subtle and the solution presented here uses a "dynamic" view of triangles with two side lengths fixed. This helps pave the way toward what students will see later in trigonometry but some guidance will likely be needed in order to get students started on this path.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

The goal of this task is to provide an opportunity for students to apply a wide range of ideas from geometry and algebra in order to show that a given quadrilateral is a rectangle. Creativity will be essential here as the only given information is the Cartesian coordinates of the quadrilateral's vertices. Using this information to show that the four angles are right angles will require some auxiliary constructions. Students will need ample time and, for some of the methods provided below, guidance. The reward of going through this task thoroughly should justify the effort because it provides students an opportunity to see multiple geometric and algebraic constructions unified to achieve a common purpose. The teacher may wish to have students first brainstorm for methods of showing that a quadrilateral is rectangle (before presenting them with the explicit coordinates of the rectangle for this problem): ideally, they can then divide into groups and get to work straightaway once presented with the coordinates of the quadrilateral for this problem.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

The purpose of this task is for students to use the Pythagorean Theorem to find the unknown side-lengths of a trapezoid in order to determine the area. This problem will require creativity and persistence as students must decompose the given trapezoid into other polygons in order to find its area.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Three right triangles surround a shaded triangle; together they form a rectangle measuring 12 units by 14 units. The figure used shows some of the dimensions but is not drawn to scale. Apply the Pythagorean Theorem to prove whether the figure is a right triangle.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

This problem is part of a very rich tradition of problems looking to maximize the area enclosed by a shape with fixed perimeter. Only three shapes are considered here because the problem is difficult for more irregular shapes. For example, of all triangles, the one with fixed perimeter P and largest area is the equilateral triangle whose side lengths are all P3 but this is difficult to show because it is not easy to find the area of triangle in terms of the three side lengths (though Heron's formula accomplishes this). Nor is it simple to compare the area of two triangles with equal perimeter without knowing their individual areas. For quadrilaterals, a similar problem arises: showing that of all rectangles with perimeter P the one with the largest area is the square whose side lengths are P4 is a good problem which students should think about. But comparing a square to an irregularly shaped quadrilateral of equal perimeter will be difficult.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Students need to reason as to how they can use the Pythagorean Theorem to find the distances ran by Ben Watson and Champ Bailey. The focus here should not be on who ran a greater distance but on seeing how to set up right triangles to apply the Pythagorean Theorem to this problem. Students must use their measurement skills and make reasonable estimates to set up triangles and correctly apply the Theorem.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

In this problem-solving task, students are challenged to determine whether the windshield wipers on a car or a truck allow the drivers to see more area clearly. To solve this problem, students must apply the Pythagorean theorem and their ability to find area of circles and parallelograms to find the answer. Be sure to click the links in the orange bar at the top of the page for more information about the challenge. From NCTM's Figure This! Math Challenges for Families.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Students can practice answering mathematics questions on a variety of topics. With an account, students can save their work and send it to their teacher when complete.

Type: Student Center Activity

This informational text resource is intended to support reading in the content area. The text describes a method for predicting the win-loss record for baseball teams based on runs scored and runs allowed, using the "Pythagorean Expectation" formula invented by Bill James. The text goes on to show the relationship of the prediction formula to the Pythagorean theorem, pointing out a very cool application of the theorem to the world of sports.

Type: Text Resource

This overview of the Pythagorean Theorem covers its purpose, equation, application, and validity. The site also provides a number of illustrations which help students visualize the theorem, and links to related resources for further understanding.

Type: Text Resource

This video demonstrates Bhaskara's proof of the Pythagorean Theorem.

Type: Tutorial

This video shows a proof of the Pythagorean Theorem using similar triangles.

Type: Tutorial

This tutorial shows students how to find the distance between lines using the Pythagorean Theorem. This video makes a connection between the distance formula and the Pythagorean Theorem.

Type: Tutorial

In this tutorial, you will practice finding the missing width of a carpet, given the length of one side and the diagonal of the carpet.

Type: Tutorial

This resource gives an animated and then annotated proof of the Pythagorean Theorem.

Type: Video/Audio/Animation

Representation to illustrate the Pythagorean Theorem.

Type: Virtual Manipulative

"Free online calculator will calculate the side lengths and angles for any . Just input any valid combination of sides and/or angles, and let the calculator do the rest! This free tool also draws a downloadable image of your triangle." (from Math Worksheets Go!)

Type: Virtual Manipulative