SOLUTION: 68 = a + 8 hyp leg a leg b I need to find leg a.

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Question 878404: 68 = a + 8
hyp leg a leg b
I need to find leg a.
Answer by JulietG(1812) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
I'm assuming the following:
68 is the hypotenuse
8 is leg b
If so, use the formula a%5E2+b%5E2=c%5E2 where a & b are the sides of a right triangle and c is the hypotenuse.
a%5E2+8 = 68
Subtract 8 from each side
a%5E2=60
Take the square root of each side
a = 7.746
.
HOWEVER... If, as I suspect, leg b is 8 long (rather than 8 being the square), the equation becomes:
a%5E2+8%5E2 = 68
a%5E2+ 64 = 68
Subtract 64 from each side
a%5E2=4
Take the square root of each side
a = 2