Answer:
<em>a</em> = 12
General Formulas and Concepts:
<u>Pre-Algebra</u>
- Order of Operations: BPEMDAS
- Equality Properties
<u>Trigonometry</u>
[Right Triangles Only] Pythagorean Theorem: a² + b² = c²
- a is a leg
- b is another leg
- c is the hypotenuse
Step-by-step explanation:
<u>Step 1: Identify</u>
We are given a right triangle. We can use PT to solve for the missing length <em>a</em>.
<u>Step 2: Define</u>
hypotenuse <em>c</em> = 15
leg <em>b</em> = 9
leg <em>a</em> = ?
<u>Step 3: Find missing length </u><em><u>a</u></em>
- Substitute in variables: a² + 9² = 15²
- Isolate <em>a</em> term: a² = 15² - 9²
- Exponents: a² = 225 - 81
- Subtract: a² = 144
- Isolate <em>a</em>: a = ±12
Since we are not dealing with a quadrant triangle, we can disregard the negative root of the quadratic.
∴ <em>a</em> = 12 is our final answer.