Another Special Right Triangle (Guided Discovery)

Interact with the applet below for a few minutes. After doing so, please answer the questions that appear below. You can move points A and B around at any time.

1.

How would you classify by its sides? Why would you classify it this way?

2.

What is the measure of the dark purple angle? Explain why your answer is true.

3.

What is the measure of ? Explain how you know this is true.

4.

What is the measure of angle A? Explain how you know.

5.

What are the measures of the interior angles of ?

6.

How does the length of the longest side of compare to the length of its shortest side? Explain how you know this to be true.

7.

Suppose AO = 3. What is the value of AC?

8.

Given that AO = 3 and your response to (7) above, solve for the length CO. Write your answer in simplest radical form.

9.

Answer questions (7) - (8) again, this time with AO = 4.

10.

Answer questions (7) - (8) again, this time with AO = 5.

11.

Answer questions (7) - (8) again, this time with AO = 6.

12.

Answer questions (7) - (8) again, this time with AO = 7.

13.

Notice any patterns in your data above? If so, explain the relationships you've discovered as best as you can.

14.

Answer questions (7) - (8) again, this time with AO = x. (Be sure your responses to these questions are expressions written in terms of x.)

Quick (Silent) Demo