RUNNING HEAD: Pythagorean Quadratic 1

Pythagorean Theorem
MAT221
Instructor Gregory Dlabach
May 26, 2014

RUNNING HEAD: Pythagorean Quadratic 2

Pythagorean Theorem

In the final weeks assignment, a word exercise involves buried treasure in the textbook.
(Dugopolski, 2012). In this exercise Ahmed has a half of a treasure map that indicates there is a
buried treasure in the desert that is 2x+6 paces from Castle Rock. The exercise also states that
Vanessa has the other half of the map and it states that in order to find the buried treasure we
must go to Castle Rock, walk x paces north, and then walk 2x+4 paces to the east. The
assignment is to put together both Ahmed and Vanessas map and determine x. In order to
solve this exercise the Pythagorean Theorem is used. The Pythagorean Theorem in
algebra states that in a right triangle the square of a
2
plus the square of b
2
is equal to the
square of c
2
. This is further demonstrated in the diagram below:
a
2
+ b
2
= c
2
First in the equation it is noted that Ahmed will have to walk 2x+6 paces from Castle
Rock. If Ahmed drew a diagram and used a line to point to Castle Rock it would be labeled as
point A which is also 2x+6 paces. With this being the radius in order to find the treasure its
point is at C on the diagram. Vanessa will label her point on the diagram at point B which is
2x+4 paces. The diagram example is below:





X

2x+4
2x+6
RUNNING HEAD: Pythagorean Quadratic 3



The Pythagorean Theorem theory states that the sum of the square of one leg and the
square of another leg would be equal to that of the square of the hypotenuse. With this
information an equation of a
2
+b
2
=c
2
can be written. In this equation a will equal to x, b
will equal to 2x+6, and c equals 2x+4. The detailed breakdown of solving this equation is
as follows:
x
2
+ (2x+6)
2
= (2x+4)
2
The substitutions are added into the Pythagorean
Theorem
x
2
+ (2x+6)

(2x+6) = (2x+4)
2
The expression is multiplied by itself two times
x
2
+ (4x
2
+2x6+62x+66) (2x+4)
2
Using the FOIL method the equation is
multiplied and like terms are combined
x
2
+ (4x
2
+24x+36)-((2x+4(2x+4)) Each term is multiplied in the first group then in the
second group using the FOIL method.
x
2
+ (4x
2
+24x+36) - (4x
2
-16x-16) Each term is multiplied by -1
x
2
+4x
2
+24x+36-4x
2
-16x-16 Parentheses are removed and combine like terms
5
2
+24x+36-4x
2
-16x-16 Add and subtract all like terms
X 2 + 8 x + 36-16, Subtract
x
2
-8x-20 Quadratic formula is used to solve by factoring and
using the zero factor; a=1, b=8, c=20
(x-)(x+) = 0 The coefficient of x
2
is 1 therefore use
parentheses with x.
RUNNING HEAD: Pythagorean Quadratic 4

(1x 10)(1x+2)=0 The result of the quadratic formula which is the
original equation of x
2
-8x-20
(x-10) (x+2) Zero factor of x
2
-8x-20 Therefore x=10 and
x=2
x=10 and x=2 Compound equations
x=10 Used in beginning equation for Ahmed
2(10) +6 = 20+6 =26 26 paces
2(10) +4=20+4=24 24 paces

Combining our solution together, it states that Ahmed will have to go 26 paces from Castle Rock
in order to find the buried treasure. Vanessa will be 10 paces north and then have 24 paces east
to go.

RUNNING HEAD: Pythagorean Quadratic 5


References

Dugopolski, M. (2012). Linear Equations and Inequalities in One Variable. In Elementary and
intermediate algebra (pp. 145-151). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.