What is the other side of a right triangle if it has sides of 9, 41?

1 Answer

See below

either 42 or 40

Explanation:

The third side depends on which side is the hypotenuse.

#color(blue)(Possibility" " 1) " "#: If these two lengths are the legs.

#a^2+b^2=c^2" "# Pythagorean theorem

#9^2+41^2=c^2#

#81+1681=c^2#

#1762=c^2" "c=sqrt1762" "c~~42#

#color(blue)(Possibility " "2)" " #: 41 is the hypotenuse.

#a^2+b^2=c^2" "# Pythagorean theorem

#9^2+b^2=41^2" "81+b^2=1681#

#b^2=1600" "b=+-40#

since length cannot be negative, #b=40#