Using the Pythagorean Theorem, how do you find the length of side c given a = 20 , b = 28?

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Answer 1 · 2017-01-17T12:30:14

See the entire solution process below:

The Pythagorean Theorem states, given a right triangle:
#a^2 + b^2 = c^2#

Where #a# and #b# are the base and height of the triangle and #c# is the hypotenuse.

To solve this problem we substitute the values from the problem for #a# and #b# and solve for #c#

#20^2 + 28^2 = c^2#

#400 + 784 = c^2#

#1184 = c^2#

#sqrt(1184) = sqrt(c^2)#

#34.4 = c#

#c = 34.4# rounded to the nearest tenth.