Measuring Line Segments
We can use the properties of a square to find its area or even its side length . We can calculate the length of any line segment on a grid by thinking of it as the side length of a square! Let’s try this two ways . . .
Example 1: P Q Use a ruler and a protractor (for 90o angles) to create a square with the segment PQ as one side length. - the length of PQ is therefore the square root of the area
Cut the square into four congruent triangles and a smaller square. Find the area of each triangle with the formula What is the area of the smaller square? Add all of these numbers together to get the total area, then find the square root which gives you the length of the line segment PQ
Example 2: Use the existing grid to draw an enclosing square . . . Be sure to touch each corner. Example 2: Use the area formula to find the area of the larger square. The triangles formed by the large square are congruent. Find their area with the formula The area of the large square minus the area of the four triangles will leave you with the area of the original square Find the square root and you will have the length of each side segment!
PRACTICE. . . text p. 20 (7, 8, 9) p. 21 (11, 12) Show your work Check your answers Homework: worksheet pkg.