SOLUTION: Drew is making a cardboard cut out of a right triangle. He knows that the longest side must be 15 inches long. One of the short sides must be 8 inches. How many inches long will he

Question 321315: Drew is making a cardboard cut out of a right triangle. He knows that the longest side must be 15 inches long. One of the short sides must be 8 inches. How many inches long will he make the other side? Use the appropriate formula to find the solution and round to the nearest tenth. Show all steps or reasoning used.
So far, I have no idea what I'm supposed to do.
I've determined that since it's a right triangle the angle is 90 degrees. The long side is the diagonal side that would connect the vertical side and the base together which is 15 inches and the base is 8inches long. I don't know where to go from here though.
Answer by stanbon(75887) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Drew is making a cardboard cut out of a right triangle. He knows that the longest side must be 15 inches long. One of the short sides must be 8 inches. How many inches long will he make the other side? Use the appropriate formula to find the solution and round to the nearest tenth. Show all steps or reasoning used.
----
hypotenuse = 15 inches
One of the legs = 8 inches
Let the other leg = x
============================
Equation:
Use Pythagoras to solve for "x":
x^2 + 8^2 = 15^2
x^2 = 225-64
x = sqrt(161)
x = 12.69 inches
-----

RELATED QUESTIONS
Find a number whose product with 6 is the same as its sum with 60. 2.What degree... (answered by solver91311)

a rectangular piece of aluminum sheet measures 12 inches by 9 inches QUESTION: if the... (answered by addingup)

A box with an open top is formed by cutting squares out of the corners of a rectangular... (answered by ankor@dixie-net.com)

solution: the sides of the triangle are 12, 8 and 15 inches long. In a similar triangle,... (answered by solver91311)

Why must the hypotenuse of a right triangle be the longest side (answered by stanbon)

You are instructed to cut a triangular opening into a wall. Once cut, he triangular... (answered by solve_for_x)

An artist is creating tiles to use in a project. Each tile is to be in the shape of a... (answered by Edwin McCravy)

A box with an open top is formed by cutting squares out of the corners of a rectangular... (answered by Earlsdon)

an equilateral triangle of side length of 6cm is cut from a sheet of cardboard. a circle... (answered by josgarithmetic)