Question ID b5fcd74b
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty
PSAT/NMSQT & Math Geometry and Right triangles and
PSAT 10 Trigonometry trigonometry
ID: b5fcd74b
Which equation shows the relationship between the side lengths of the given triangle?
A.
B.
C.
D.
ID: b5fcd74b Answer
Correct Answer: C
Rationale
Choice C is correct. The Pythagorean theorem states that in a right triangle, the sum of the squares of the lengths
of the two legs is equal to the square of the length of the hypotenuse. Therefore, 𝑎2 + 𝑏2 = 𝑐2 , where 𝑎 and 𝑏 are
the lengths of the legs and 𝑐 is the length of the hypotenuse. For the given right triangle, the lengths of the legs
are 4 and 𝑏, and the length of the hypotenuse is 19. Substituting 4 for 𝑎 and 19 for 𝑐 in the equation 𝑎2 + 𝑏2 = 𝑐2
yields 42 + 𝑏2 = 192 . Thus, the relationship between the side lengths of the given triangle is 42 + 𝑏2 = 192 .
Choice A is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.
Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.
Choice D is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.
Question Difficulty: Easy
Question ID 0d85e8d2
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty
PSAT/NMSQT & Math Geometry and Right triangles and
PSAT 10 Trigonometry trigonometry
ID: 0d85e8d2
In the triangle shown, what is the value of ?
A.
B.
C.
D.
ID: 0d85e8d2 Answer
Correct Answer: C
Rationale
Choice C is correct. The tangent of an acute angle in a right triangle is defined as the ratio of the length of the
side opposite the angle to the length of the shorter side adjacent to the angle. In the triangle shown, the length of
the side opposite the angle with measure 𝑥° is 26 units and the length of the side adjacent to the angle with
26
measure 𝑥° is 7 units. Therefore, the value of tan𝑥° is 7 .
Choice A is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.
Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.
Choice D is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.
Question Difficulty: Easy
Question ID f6ea61ff
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty
PSAT/NMSQT & Math Geometry and Right triangles and
PSAT 10 Trigonometry trigonometry
ID: f6ea61ff
For the right triangle shown, and . Which expression represents the value of ?
A.
B.
C.
D.
ID: f6ea61ff Answer
Correct Answer: D
Rationale
Choice D is correct. By the Pythagorean theorem, if a right triangle has a hypotenuse with length 𝑐 and legs with
lengths 𝑎 and 𝑏, then 𝑐2 = 𝑎2 + 𝑏2 . In the right triangle shown, the hypotenuse has length 𝑐 and the legs have
lengths 𝑎 and 𝑏. It's given that 𝑎 = 4 and 𝑏 = 5. Substituting 4 for 𝑎 and 5 for 𝑏 in the Pythagorean theorem yields
2 2
𝑐2 = 42 + 5 . Taking the square root of both sides of this equation yields 𝑐 = ± √42 + 5 . Since the length of a side
2
of a triangle must be positive, the value of 𝑐 is √42 + 5 .
Choice A is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.
Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.
Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.
Question Difficulty: Easy
