Pythagoras' Theorem in 3D

This resource is aimed at KS4 students taking the Higher paper. There is a big emphasis on helping students to interpret 3D shapes drawn in 3D.

The resource consists of a presentation, an activity sheet and a worksheet. Worked solutions to all questions are included in the presentation.

After a brief revision of Pythagoras in 2D, students do two activities identifying right-angles in the nets of 3D shapes. Mini white board work follows asking students whether an angle is a right-angle or not and to identify 3D shapes with perpendicular heights.

Attention turns to finding lengths in cuboids: example, mini white board work and 3 questions on the worksheet.

Pythagoras’ theorem is then applied to cylinders, wedges and pyramids. An example is followed by mini white board work. The lesson finishes with 6 questions on a worksheet.