Question

The hypotenuse of a right triangle is 50 meters long and one side is 30 meters long. What is the length of the remaining side?

Answer 1

40

Explanation:

Use Pythagorean's Theorem:

`a^2+b^2=c^2`

you have `c` and on side.

`a^2+30^2=50^2`

`a^2+900=2500`

`a^2=2500-900`

`a^2=1600`

`a=sqrt1600`

`a=40`

You might also note that this triangle is a "pythagorean triple", a 3,4,5 triangle multiplied by 10 and immediately deduce the missing side must be 40.