Question

Using the pythagorean theorem, how do you solve for the missing side given c = 65 and a = 56?

Answer 1

`b=33`

Explanation:

Assuming `c=65` is the hypotenuse and `a=56` is one of the legs, the Pythaorgean Theorem tells us:

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

So:

`b^2 = c^2-a^2 = 65^2-56^2 = 4225-3136 = 1089 = 33^2`

Since we want `b > 0` we want the positive square root of `1089`, namely `b=33`.