Question

What is the length of BC in the right triangle below? A. ^234 B. 234 c. ^216 D. 216

Answer 1

We can use the pythagorean theorem to solve this

The pythagorean theorem = a^2 + b^2 = c^2, while

a = one leg

b = the second leg

c = the hypotenuse

In this problem,

a = 3

b = 15

c = ?

Let's plug our values into the pythagorean theorem

(3)^2 + (15)^2 = c^2

9 + 225 = c^2

Add together the left side

234 = c^2

Take the sqrt of both sides

sqrt(234) = c

The length of BC = sqrt(234)