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Zorluk: OrtaPythagorean Theorem and Special Right Triangles

In right triangle PQRPQR, the measure of PQR\angle PQR is 9090^\circ. Segment QSQS is an altitude drawn perpendicular to hypotenuse PRPR with point SS lying on PRPR. If PQ=15PQ = 15 centimeters and PS=9PS = 9 centimeters, what is the length, in centimeters, of hypotenuse PRPR?

Cevap: 25 cm

Cevap

The length of hypotenuse PRPR is 25 centimeters.
Using the leg-hypotenuse geometric mean theorem for right triangles (PQ2=PSPRPQ^2 = PS \cdot PR), substituting PQ=15PQ = 15 and PS=9PS = 9 yields 152=9PR    225=9PR15^2 = 9 \cdot PR \implies 225 = 9 \cdot PR, solving directly to PR=25PR = 25 cm.

Adım Adım Çözüm

1
Calculate the length of altitude QSQS using the Pythagorean theorem on right triangle PQS\triangle PQS
QS=15292=22581=144=12QS = \sqrt{15^2 - 9^2} = \sqrt{225 - 81} = \sqrt{144} = 12 cm
Altitude QSQS forms right angle PSQ=90\angle PSQ = 90^\circ, making PQS\triangle PQS a right triangle.
2
Determine the length of hypotenuse segment SRSR using the geometric mean relationship QS2=PSSRQS^2 = PS \cdot SR
122=9SR    144=9SR    SR=1612^2 = 9 \cdot SR \implies 144 = 9 \cdot SR \implies SR = 16 cm
The altitude to the hypotenuse divides the original right triangle into two smaller similar right triangles.
3
Sum the segment lengths PSPS and SRSR to find the total length of hypotenuse PRPR
PR=PS+SR=9+16=25PR = PS + SR = 9 + 16 = 25 cm
Point SS lies directly on segment PRPR between endpoints PP and RR.

Anahtar Kavram

Geometric Mean Theorem and Pythagorean Theorem in Right Triangles
Tahmini Süre:1m 30s
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