Question

How do you use the Pythagoras Theorem to find side length of triangle abc if ac=7 and bc=3?

Answer 1

"Side length" of triangle is `6.324`

Explanation:

As the "side length" is to be found using Pythagoras theorem, it is apparent that of known sides `ac=7` and `bc=3`, `ac` the greater one is the hypotenuse and we have to find `ab`.

Now according to Pythagoras theorem square of hypotenuse is equal to sum of the squares of other two sides, hence

`7^2=3^2+(bc)^2` or

`49=9+(bc)^2`

or `(bc)^2=49-9=40`

Hence `bc=sqrt40=sqrt(2xx2xx10)=2sqrt10=2xx3.162=6.324`