document.write( "Question 221417: The length of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is 8 centimeters and the length of one side is 2 centimeters. What is the exact length of the third side? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #166070 by jim_thompson5910(35256)\"\" \"About 
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "We basically have this triangle set up:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "To find the unknown length, we need to use the Pythagorean Theorem.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Remember, the Pythagorean Theorem is \"a%5E2%2Bb%5E2=c%5E2\" where \"a\" and \"b\" are the legs of a triangle and \"c\" is the hypotenuse.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Since the legs are \"x\" and \"2\" this means that \"a=x\" and \"b=2\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Also, since the hypotenuse is \"8\", this means that \"c=8\".\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"a%5E2%2Bb%5E2=c%5E2\" Start with the Pythagorean theorem.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x%5E2%2B2%5E2=8%5E2\" Plug in \"a=x\", \"b=2\", \"c=8\" \r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x%5E2%2B4=8%5E2\" Square \"2\" to get \"4\".\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x%5E2%2B4=64\" Square \"8\" to get \"64\".\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x%5E2=64-4\" Subtract \"4\" from both sides.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x%5E2=60\" Combine like terms.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x=sqrt%2860%29\" Take the square root of both sides. Note: only the positive square root is considered (since a negative length doesn't make sense).\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x=2%2Asqrt%2815%29\" Simplify the square root.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Answer:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So the solution is \"x=2%2Asqrt%2815%29\" which approximates to \"x=7.746\".\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So the exact length is \"2%2Asqrt%2815%29\" units while the approximate length is \"7.746\" units.
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