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

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Answer 1 · 2017-07-27T15:27:56

See below

either 42 or 40

The third side depends on which side is the hypotenuse.

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

$9^2+41^2=c^2$

$81+1681=c^2$

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

$color(blue)(Possibility " "2)" "$ : 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, $b=40$