Special Right Triangles

Right triangles are so special! Use special right triangles to discover the trigonometric ratios. Pairs construct special right triangles and find the values of the ratios of the sides. In the process, they discover the ratios stay the...

Amaze your classes with the ability to find side lengths of triangles immediately — they'll all want to know your trick! Learners use the Pythagorean Theorem and special right triangle relationships to find missing side lengths.

Square roots connect squares and right triangles. Using the Pythagorean Theorem, the video shows the relationship between the sides and hypotenuse of a 45-45 right triangle. The portion of a larger geometry playlist applies the...

It is special—given one length, you can find the other two. A segment of a basic geometry playlist provides the ratio of the lengths of sides of a 30-60 right triangle. The presentation shows how to use the ratio to find side lengths...

45-45-90 triangles are half a square, which gives them a special status! The instructor explains the relationship of the sides of the 45-45-90 triangle using the Pythagorean Theorem as a reference. 

Go from one side length to any other side length with special right triangles. Individuals use the interactive to investigate the ratio of sides in 45-45 and 30-60 right triangles. Scholars make generalizations about the types of special...

Fuse sports and geometry by having your class create paper footballs—that are actually isosceles right triangles! Scholars use an interactive to create an isosceles right triangle to model a paper football. From the information in the...

Determine the change in elevation on a mountain road. Individuals use the interactive to simulate a truck driving up a mountain road with a 30-degree incline. They determine missing sides of a 30-60 right triangle to find horizontal and...

Students review the Pythagorean Theorem and apply it to word problems involving special right triangles.

Young mathematicians draw and label right triangles using Cabri Jr. technology. They create other special right triangles and identify the length of the hypotenuse and each leg. Learners explore the ratios to determine how the hypotenuse...