CramX Logo

Q
QuestionMathematics

What is the 45 - 45 - 90 triangle rule?
12 months agoReport content

Answer

Full Solution Locked

Sign in to view the complete step-by-step solution and unlock all study resources.

Step 1:
: Understand the concept of a 45 - 45 - 90 triangle

This triangle has equal leg lengths and a hypotenuse that is longer than the legs by a factor of $\sqrt{2}$.
A 45 - 45 - 90 triangle is a special right triangle where the angles are 45 degrees, 45 degrees, and 90 degrees.

Step 2:
: State the 45 - 45 - 90 triangle rule

This means that for any 45-45-90 triangle, the length of the hypotenuse is always $\sqrt{2}$ times longer than the length of a leg.

Step 3:
: Derive the 45 - 45 - 90 triangle rule

l : h = 1 : \sqrt{2}
In a right triangle, the Pythagorean theorem states that: Since a 45 - 45 - 90 triangle has equal legs, we can write: Now, the Pythagorean theorem becomes: So, the ratio of the leg length to the hypotenuse length is:

Final Answer

The 45 - 45 - 90 triangle rule states that the ratio of the leg length to the hypotenuse length in a 45 - 45 - 90 triangle is 1 : $\sqrt{2}$. This means that for any 45 - 45 - 90 triangle, the length of the hypotenuse is always $\sqrt{2}$ times longer than the length of a leg.