GMAT Math : Calculating the length of the side of a right triangle

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Math

Create An Account

All GMAT Math Resources

22 Diagnostic Tests 693 Practice Tests Question of the Day Flashcards Learn by Concept

Example Questions

Example Question #4 : Triangles

What is the side length of a right triangle with a hypotenuse of and a side of ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

We need to use the Pythagorean theorem:

a^2+b^2=c^2

a^2=c^2-b^2

a^2=10^2-8^2

a^2=100-64

a^2=36

a=6

Report an Error

Example Question #5 : Triangles

There is a big square that consists of four identical right triangles and a small square. If the area of the small square is 1, the area of the big square is 5, what is the length of the shortest side of the right triangles?

Possible Answers:

$\dpi{100} \small 5$

$\dpi{100} \small 1$

$\dpi{100} \small 3$

$\dpi{100} \small 2$

$\dpi{100} \small 4$

Correct answer:

$\dpi{100} \small 1$

Explanation:

The area of the big square is 5, and area of the small square is 1. Therefore, the area of the four right triangles is $\dpi{100} \small 5-1=4$ .

Since the four triangles are all exactly the same, the area of each of the right triangle is 1. We know that the longer side is 2 times the shorter side, so we can represent the shorter side as $\dpi{100} \small x$ and the longer side as $\dpi{100} \small 2x$ . Then we are able to set up an equation:

$\dpi{100} \small \frac{1}{2}\times x\times 2x=1$ .

Therefore, x, the length of the shortest side of the right triangle, is 1.

Report an Error

Example Question #6 : Triangles

A triangle has sides of length 9, 12, and 16. Which of the following statements is true?

Possible Answers:

The triangle is acute and scalene.

The triangle is obtuse and isosceles.

The triangle is acute and isosceles.

The triangle cannot exist.

The triangle is obtuse and scalene.

Correct answer:

The triangle is obtuse and scalene.

Explanation:

This triangle can exist by the Triangle Inequality, since the sum of the lengths of its shortest two sides exceeds that of the longest side:

9 + 12 = 21 > 16

The sum of the squares of its shortest two sides is less than the square of that of its longest side:

$9^{2}+12^{2} = 81+144= 225 <256=16^{2}$

This makes the triangle obtuse.

Its sides are all of different measure, which makes the triangle scalene as well.

Obtuse and scalene is the correct choice.

Report an Error

Example Question #7 : Right Triangles

Using the following right traingle, calculate the value of

(Not drawn to scale.)

Possible Answers:

$1\textup{ cm}$

$9\textup{ cm}$

$3\textup{ cm}$

$6.4\textup{ cm}$

Correct answer:

$3\textup{ cm}$

Explanation:

We can determine the length of the side by using the Pythagorean Theorem:

c^2=a^2+b^2

where c=5, a=4

Our equation is then:

5^2=x^2+4^2

x^2=25-16=9

x=3

Report an Error

Example Question #4 : Calculating The Length Of The Side Of A Right Triangle

Calculate the length of the side of the following right triangle.

(Not drawn to scale.)

Possible Answers:

$8.94\textup{ cm}$

$14.42 \textup{ cm}$

$20\textup{ cm}$

$16\textup{ cm}$

Correct answer:

$8.94\textup{ cm}$

Explanation:

We can calculate the length of the side by using the pythagorean theorem: c^2=a^2+b^2

where our values are c=12, a=8

we can then solve for :

12^2=8^2+x^2

x^2=12^2-8^2=80

x=8.94

Report an Error

Example Question #12 : Triangles

A right triangle has a hypotenuse of 13 and a height of 5. What is the length of the third side of the triangle?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

In order to find the length of the third side, we need to use the Pythagorean theorem. The hypotenuse, c, is 13, and the height, a, is 5, so we can simply plug in these values and solve for b, the length of the base of the right triangle:

a^2+b^2=c^2

b^2=c^2-a^2=13^2-5^2=169-25

$b^2=144\rightarrow b=12$

Report an Error

Example Question #3 : Calculating The Length Of The Side Of A Right Triangle

The hypotenuse of a $\textup{30-60-90}$ triangle has length $4^{t}$ . Which of the following is equal to the length of its shortest leg?

Possible Answers:

$4 ^{t-1}$

$4 ^{t-2}$

$4 ^{\frac{1}{2} t }$

$4 ^{\frac{1}{2} t-\frac{1}{2}}$

$4 ^{t-\frac{1}{2}}$

Correct answer:

$4 ^{t-\frac{1}{2}}$

Explanation:

The shortest leg of a $\textup{30-60-90}$ triangle is one half the length of its hypotenuse. In this triangle, it is

$\frac{1}{2} \cdot 4^{t} = \frac{4^{t}}{2} = \frac{4^{t}}{ \sqrt{4}} = \frac{4^{t}}{4^{\frac{1}{2}} } = 4 ^{t-\frac{1}{2}}$

Report an Error

All GMAT Math Resources

22 Diagnostic Tests 693 Practice Tests Question of the Day Flashcards Learn by Concept

Popular Subjects

Calculus Tutors in New York City, Physics Tutors in Philadelphia, French Tutors in Dallas Fort Worth, GRE Tutors in San Diego, English Tutors in Washington DC, Computer Science Tutors in New York City, Algebra Tutors in Atlanta, SSAT Tutors in Philadelphia, Physics Tutors in Miami, LSAT Tutors in Chicago

Popular Courses & Classes

LSAT Courses & Classes in Philadelphia, MCAT Courses & Classes in Miami, SAT Courses & Classes in Chicago, SAT Courses & Classes in Dallas Fort Worth, LSAT Courses & Classes in Atlanta, SSAT Courses & Classes in Miami, SAT Courses & Classes in Houston, GRE Courses & Classes in Phoenix, Spanish Courses & Classes in Seattle, MCAT Courses & Classes in Denver

Popular Test Prep

LSAT Test Prep in Miami, SAT Test Prep in Chicago, GMAT Test Prep in Houston, SSAT Test Prep in New York City, ACT Test Prep in Phoenix, ISEE Test Prep in Phoenix, MCAT Test Prep in Seattle, GRE Test Prep in Phoenix, GRE Test Prep in Philadelphia, MCAT Test Prep in New York City

DMCA Complaint

If you believe that content available by means of the Website (as defined in our Terms of Service) infringes one or more of your copyrights, please notify us by providing a written notice (“Infringement Notice”) containing the information described below to the designated agent listed below. If Varsity Tutors takes action in response to an Infringement Notice, it will make a good faith attempt to contact the party that made such content available by means of the most recent email address, if any, provided by such party to Varsity Tutors.

Your Infringement Notice may be forwarded to the party that made the content available or to third parties such as ChillingEffects.org.

Please be advised that you will be liable for damages (including costs and attorneys’ fees) if you materially misrepresent that a product or activity is infringing your copyrights. Thus, if you are not sure content located on or linked-to by the Website infringes your copyright, you should consider first contacting an attorney.

Please follow these steps to file a notice:

You must include the following:

A physical or electronic signature of the copyright owner or a person authorized to act on their behalf; An identification of the copyright claimed to have been infringed; A description of the nature and exact location of the content that you claim to infringe your copyright, in \ sufficient detail to permit Varsity Tutors to find and positively identify that content; for example we require a link to the specific question (not just the name of the question) that contains the content and a description of which specific portion of the question – an image, a link, the text, etc – your complaint refers to; Your name, address, telephone number and email address; and A statement by you: (a) that you believe in good faith that the use of the content that you claim to infringe your copyright is not authorized by law, or by the copyright owner or such owner’s agent; (b) that all of the information contained in your Infringement Notice is accurate, and (c) under penalty of perjury, that you are either the copyright owner or a person authorized to act on their behalf.

Send your complaint to our designated agent at:

Charles Cohn Varsity Tutors LLC
101 S. Hanley Rd, Suite 300
St. Louis, MO 63105

Or fill out the form below:

Do not fill in this field

Contact Information

* Full legal name

Company name

* Phone number

* Email address

Address

* Address1

Address2

* City

* State

* Zipcode

* Country

Complaint Details

* URL of copyrighted work (where your original material is located)

* Please describe the copyrighted work so that it may be easily identified

I am the owner, or an agent authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed.

I have a good faith belief that the use of the material in the manner complained of is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law.

This notification is accurate.

I acknowledge that there may be adverse legal consequences for making false or bad faith allegations of copyright infringement by using this process.

* Signature (your digital signature is legally binding)

Email address:
Your name:
Feedback:

GMAT Math : Calculating the length of the side of a right triangle

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Math

All GMAT Math Resources

Example Questions

Example Question #4 : Triangles

Example Question #5 : Triangles

Example Question #6 : Triangles

Example Question #7 : Right Triangles

Example Question #4 : Calculating The Length Of The Side Of A Right Triangle

Example Question #12 : Triangles

Example Question #3 : Calculating The Length Of The Side Of A Right Triangle

All GMAT Math Resources

Report an issue with this question

DMCA Complaint

Contact Information

Address

Complaint Details