Pythagorean Theorem Question

[James Crook]

I have a right-triangle.  One side is 5cm, one side is 12cm.  What can you say about the third side?

(Shri is not allowed to answer this one!).

--James.

[Abe Rabin]

It depends. Is the 12cm side a hypotenuse or a leg?

[James Crook]

Unfortunately when I was measuring this triangle I didn't make a note of that.

So I'd like all the possible answers :-)

I also have a square based pyramid that has four sides of length 10cm and its height (measured from the square base to the apex) is 5cm.  Could you tell me what the volume of it is too, whilst you are there?  If it helps, it looks pretty regular to me - all the long sides are the same length as each other.    

I'd like the answer(s) to the first question now.  The possible volumes of the pyramid can come later in another e-mail.

--James.

[Abe Rabin]

Well, if 12 is the leg then 13cm is the hypotenuse.

If 12cm is the hypotenuse then the third side is root(119) cm.

[James Crook]

Perfect.  Thanks.

Anyone want to take on the pyramid question?

--James.

[James Crook]

The pyramid question wasn't too well worded.

To make the question clearer, one possibility is that the square base has sides each 10cm long.

Another possibility is that it's the long sloping edges of the pyramid that each have length 10cm, and the length of the sides of the square must then be something different to that.

--James.

[Abe Rabin]

I'll try to work this one out as well, unless somebody else may want to?

[Shri R Ganeshram]

I see the solution pretty well, so I want to let someone else who hasn't gone for one yet write it up.

I suggest you also let someone else work it out, Abe. This way we can check the overall level of the group and have more appropriate leveled questions from here on out.

I know it is work to type something up, but it doesn't have to be elaborate, and it won't take more than 15 minutes out of your summer!

-Shri

P.S. Volume=Base Area*height*1/3 for a pyramid, in case that is what is holding you back.
________________________________________
From: l2lea...@googlegroups.com [l2lea...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Abe Rabin [honest....@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2011 6:36 PM
To: l2lea...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: Pythagorean Theorem Question

I'll try to work this one out as well, unless somebody else may want to?

On Thu, Jun 23, 2011 at 6:19 PM, James Crook <james....@gmail.com<mailto:james....@gmail.com>> wrote:
The pyramid question wasn't too well worded.

To make the question clearer, one possibility is that the square base has sides each 10cm long.
Another possibility is that it's the long sloping edges of the pyramid that each have length 10cm, and the length of the sides of the square must then be something different to that.

--James.

On 23 June 2011 16:42, James Crook <james....@gmail.com<mailto:james....@gmail.com>> wrote:
Unfortunately when I was measuring this triangle I didn't make a note of that.

So I'd like all the possible answers :-)

I also have a square based pyramid that has four sides of length 10cm and its height (measured from the square base to the apex) is 5cm. Could you tell me what the volume of it is too, whilst you are there? If it helps, it looks pretty regular to me - all the long sides are the same length as each other.

I'd like the answer(s) to the first question now. The possible volumes of the pyramid can come later in another e-mail.

--James.

On 23 June 2011 16:04, Abe Rabin <honest....@gmail.com<mailto:honest....@gmail.com>> wrote:
It depends. Is the 12cm side a hypotenuse or a leg?

[Abe Rabin]

Yeah, I did it, but I agree Shri, somebody else can take it.