SOLUTION: A triangle has a side of length 6 cm, a side of length 8 cm and a right angle. What is the shortest possible length of the remaining side of the triangle? Express your answer as a

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Question 251473: A triangle has a side of length 6 cm, a side of length 8 cm and a right angle. What is the shortest possible length of the remaining side of the triangle? Express your answer as a decimal to the nearest hundredth
Answer by richwmiller(17219) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The hypotenuse is the longest side of a right triangle.
so either the missing side is the hypotenuse or the 8 cm side is.
If the missing side is the hypotenuse, it won't be the shortest length possible.
8*8=6*6+b^2
64=36+b^2
28=b^2
sqrt(28)=b
we can only use the positive result
2sqrt(7)=b
5.2915=b