Question

Find the length of the missing side

Answer 1

Answer:  9

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Work Shown:

a = unknown  = leg #1

b = 12  = leg #2

c = 15 = hypotenuse

Plug those values into the pythagorean theorem and solve for 'a'

a^2 + b^2 = c^2

a^2 + (12)^2 = (15)^2  .... substitution

a^2 + 144 = 225

a^2 = 225 - 144  ... subtracting 144 from both sides

a^2 = 81

a = sqrt(81)  .... applying square root to both sides

a = 9