| Two Special Right Triangles |
Two Special Right Triangles
There are two right-angled triangles which occur frequently in our work in geometry, analytic geometry and trigonometry, which we should learn to make our certain types of problems easier to solve. They are the isosceles right-angled triangle and the 30°, 60° , 90° triangle. Using the Pythagorean theorem, we can determine the ratios of the sides of these triangles.
The Isosceles Right Triangle
The ratio of the sides is 1 : 1 : 
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So, if the equal sides measure 5 cm each, the hypotenuse is 
cm long.
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Examples:
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The 30°, 60°, 90° Triangle
The ratio of the lengths of the sides in this triangle are 
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Note: If in a right triangle, the hypotenuse is twice a side, it is a 30°, 60°, 90° triangle since the ratio of the hypotenuse to the side opposite the 30° is 2 : 1
Example:
A sculpture is composed of 2 similar right circular cones. The measures are as shown.
Find the total height of the sculpture to the nearest centimeter.
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Now get a pencil, an eraser and a note book, copy the questions,
do the practice exercise(s), then check your work with the solutions.
If you get stuck, review the examples in the lesson, then try again.
Practice
1/ The diagram shows the side view of a roof.
| a) find BA or h, the height of the roof |
| b) find DC, the base of the roof |
| c) find the area of the side of the roof. |
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2/ In the diagram, AB // DE and the measures are as shown.
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3/ In the diagram, the measures are as shown:
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Solutions
1/ a) Since BA or h is opposite the 30º, it = ½ the hypotenuse. h = ½(4.8) = 2.4 or 12/5 cm.
b) DC is DA + AC. (see diagram)
Since AC is opposite the 60º
Since DA is opposite the 30º, DA = BA ÷ root 3.
DC is DA + AC = 
c) The area of the roof ½ (base)(height) =
2/ a) Because BC = 2 BA, and angle A = 90º, angle BCA = 30º
So, this is the 30º, 60º, 90º triangle with angle B = 60º
Since BA // DE, angle CDE = 60º.
b)
3/
.
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