Question

TriangleABC is a right triangle. if AC=15 and BC=17, what is AB

Answer 1

Answer:

The answer in the procedure

Step-by-step explanation:

I will analyze two cases

see the attached figure to better understand the problem

case a) applying the Pythagoras Theorem

I assume that the hypotenuse is BC

$AB^{2}=BC^{2}-AC^{2}$

substitute the given values

$AB^{2}=17^{2}-15^{2}$

$AB^{2}=64$

$AB=8\ units$

case b) applying the Pythagoras Theorem

I assume that the hypotenuse is AB

$AB^{2}=BC^{2}+AC^{2}$

substitute the given values

$AB^{2}=17^{2}+15^{2}$

$AB^{2}=514$

$AB=\sqrt{514}=22.67\ units$