Question

Ariel completed the work below to show that a triangle with side lengths of 9, 15, and 12 does not form a right triangle. 9 squared 15 squared = 12 squared. 81 225 = 144. 306 not-equals 144.

Answer 1

Answer:

Work is incorrect

Step-by-step explanation:

I'm assuming this question is asking whether the work is correct or not? In which case the work is not correct.

The Pythagorean Theorem states: $a^2+b^2=c^2$ where c=hypotenuse, and "a" and "b" are the other two sides. The main thing to note here, is that the hypotenuse is the largest side of all three sides.

So the equation Arial set up: $9^2+15^2=12^2$ is incorrect, since the 15 would need to be on the right side. This forms the correct equation: $9^2+12^2=15^2$ which then simplifies to: $81 + 144 =225 \implies 225=225$.

Thus a right triangle can be formed using these side lengths. You can of course set up a similar equation to Ariels, where the "c" or hypotenuse is not isolated,  but you would have to rearrange the equation so that: $a^2+b^2=c^2\implies b^2=c^2-a^2$ but see how "a squared" is being subtracted from "c squared"? So it's a similar equation to Ariels, but not quite the same, and if she set it up like this, then she would reach the same conclussion

Answer 2

The answer is not correct