Holt McDougal Geometry

Applying Special Right Triangles

A diagonal of a square divides it into two congruent isosceles right triangles. Since the base angles of an isosceles triangle are congruent, the measure of each acute angle is 45°. So another name for an isosceles right triangle is a 45°-45°-90° triangle.

A 45°-45°-90° triangle is one type of special right triangle. You can use the Pythagorean Theorem to find a relationship among the side lengths of a 45°-45°-90° triangle.

Holt McDougal Geometry

Applying Special Right Triangles

Holt McDougal Geometry

Applying Special Right Triangles

Example 1A: Finding Side Lengths in a 45°- 45º- 90º Triangle

Find the value of x. Give your answer in simplest radical form.

By the Triangle Sum Theorem, the measure of the third angle in the triangle is 45°. So it is a 45°-45°-90° triangle with a leg length of 8.

Holt McDougal Geometry

Applying Special Right Triangles

Example 1B: Finding Side Lengths in a 45º- 45º- 90º Triangle

Find the value of x. Give your answer in simplest radical form.

The triangle is an isosceles right triangle, which is a 45°-45°-90° triangle. The length of the hypotenuse is 5.

Rationalize the denominator.

Holt McDougal Geometry

Applying Special Right Triangles

Check It Out! Example 1a

Find the value of x. Give your answer in simplest radical form.

x = 20 Simplify.

By the Triangle Sum Theorem, the measure of the third angle in the triangle is 45°. So it is a 45°-45°-90° triangle with a leg length of

Holt McDougal Geometry

Applying Special Right Triangles

Check It Out! Example 1b

Find the value of x. Give your answer in simplest radical form.

The triangle is an isosceles right triangle, which is a 45°-45°-90° triangle. The length of the hypotenuse is 16.

Rationalize the denominator.

Holt McDougal Geometry

Applying Special Right Triangles

Example 2: Craft Application

Jana is cutting a square of material for a tablecloth. The table’s diagonal is 36 inches. She wants the diagonal of the tablecloth to be an extra 10 inches so it will hang over the edges of the table. What size square should Jana cut to make the tablecloth? Round to the nearest inch.

Jana needs a 45°-45°-90° triangle with a hypotenuse of 36 + 10 = 46 inches.

Holt McDougal Geometry

Applying Special Right Triangles

Check It Out! Example 2

What if...? Tessa’s other dog is wearing a square bandana with a side length of 42 cm. What would you expect the circumference of the other dog’s neck to be? Round to the nearest centimeter.

Tessa needs a 45°-45°-90° triangle with a hypotenuse of 42 cm.