How do you solve 30^ { 2} + x ^ { 2} = 36^ { 2}?

1 Answer
May 7, 2017

Simplify, then take the square root. x= +-6sqrt(11)

Explanation:

First, simplify it.
30^2=900 and 36^2=1296

So now you have 900+x^2=1296

Now, get the x by itself. You can do that by subtracting 900 from both sides.

900-900+x^2=1296-900
0+x^2=396
x^2=396

You would then have to take the square root of each side to make x^2 just x. However, 396 is not a perfect square, so you would simplify it as much as you could if you didn't have a calculator:

±sqrt(396)
=±sqrt(36*11)
=±sqrt(6*6*11)
=±6sqrt(11)
~~±19.9 (found with calculator)