SOLUTION: I am working on a summer math project and it deals with the pythagorean theorem, which is a concept I have lots of trouble with. So the equation is an isosceles triangle with a 5 m

Question 980347: I am working on a summer math project and it deals with the pythagorean theorem, which is a concept I have lots of trouble with. So the equation is an isosceles triangle with a 5 meter base and the longest side being 13 meters, however the height is classified as x. I inserted 5 and 13 into the formula a^2 + b^2= c^2 which gives me 5^2 + 13^2 = x^2. I dont know if that is the correct setup but i reached the point where 194 = x^2 and got lost. I do not know what to do next, please help.
Answer by Fombitz(32388) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
You've used the equation incorrectly.
In the equation a and b are the shorter legs of the right triangle while c is the longest side of the right triangle or the hypotenuse.
In the case you have, the hypotenuse equals 13 and the unknown leg is the height, x.
So,

Now solve for x.

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