Question #3063d

2 Answers
Nov 11, 2017

Check the method below.

Explanation:

Pythagorean's theorem states that in a right triangle, a^2+b^2=c^2, where c is your hypotenuse, or the angle opposite of the right angle, and a and b are either of your legs, or sides attached to the right angle.

For your first problem, you have both sides. Plug them into the theorem.

3^2+3^2=c^2
9+9=c^2
18=c^2
sqrt(c^2)=sqrt(18)
c=sqrt(9)sqrt(2)
c=3sqrt(2)

For your second problem, use the same theorem. However, note we're missing a leg and we have the hypotenuse already. Plug in accordingly.

40^2+b^2=65^2
1600+b^2=4225
b^2=2625
b~~51.2

Nov 11, 2017

a^2+b^2=c^2

Explanation:

Each of these problems uses the Pythagorean Theorem/Pythagoras' Theorem.

This theorem states that for a right angled triangle with hypoteneuse c and sides a and b, a^2+b^2=c^2. The hypoteneuse is the side opposite the right angle, and is always the longest side on a right angled triangle.
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Example 1

For the first example, a=3 and b=3.

a^2+b^2=c^2
3^2+3^2=c^2
c^2=18
At this point you can either take out your calculator to do sqrt18, or simplify the surd to get
c=3sqrt2

Example 2

For this problem, we need to re-arrange Pythagoras' theorem to make a^2 the subject (because its neater to have squares than square roots and squares).

a^2+b^2=c^2
a^2=c^2-b^2
Now, we sub in our values
a^2=65^2-40^2
a^2=4225-1600
a^2=2625
Now using your calculator
a=sqrt2625=5sqrt105~~51.2ft