Question

Given a right triangle `triangle ABC` with `C=90^circ`, if b=12, c=13, how do you find a?

Answer 1

Given that `Delta"ABC"` is a right triangle, one can use the Pythagorean Theorem find the length of side a:

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

`a = sqrt(c^2-b^2)`

`a = sqrt(13^2 - 12^2)`

`a=sqrt(25)`

`a = 5`