Questions on Geometry: Triangles answered by real tutors!

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Question 150621: find the length of the missing side of the right angled triangle. a=12; c = 20: find the length of the missing side of the right angled triangle. a=12; c = 20
Answer by Earlsdon(3719) About Me  (Show Source):
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Find the length of the missing side of the right triangle in which a = 12 and c = 20
Assuming that you are using the conventional lettering for the sides of a right triangle in which the hypotenuse is labeled c, then you can use the Pythagorean theorem to find the length of the missing side, b.
c^2 = a^2+b^2 Solve this for b.
b^2 = c^2-a^2 Take the square root of both sides.
b = sqrt(c^2-a^2) Substitute a = 12 and c = 20.
b = sqrt(20^2-12^2) Simplify.
b = sqrt(400-144)
b = sqrt(256)
b = 16