Question

Describe how the Pythagorean Theorem can be used to find a missing side length in a right triangle.

Answer 1

You use the equation a²+b²=c²

c = the hypotenuse

a and b represents the legs

Here are two examples

Example 1

Side a = 6

Side b = 8

6²+8²=c²

Square the legs

36+64=x²

Sdd

100= x²

Now we use the square root to find x

√100=√x

Solve the square root

10 = x

Example 2

side a = 3

hypotenuse = 7

3²+x²=7²

Square the known numbers

9+x²=49

Subtract 9 from 49

x²=40

Find the square root

√x=√40

x= 6.32 or 2√10

Hope this helps :)