SOLUTION: What do i do if ther are Square Roots? Like this problem: a=5, b=?, and c= sqaure root of 89? I have to find the missimg length!

Algebra ->  Pythagorean-theorem -> SOLUTION: What do i do if ther are Square Roots? Like this problem: a=5, b=?, and c= sqaure root of 89? I have to find the missimg length!      Log On


   

Question 565683: What do i do if ther are Square Roots? Like this problem: a=5, b=?, and c= sqaure root of 89? I have to find the missimg length!
Answer by Leaf W.(135) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Just do the same thing as you would normally do. When you square a square root of a number, it cancels out to just the number--if you square the square root of x, the result is x.
a = 5, b = ?, c = sqrt%2889%29
a%5E2+%2B+b%5E2+=+c%5E2
5%5E2+%2B+x%5E2+=+sqrt%2889%29%5E2
25+%2B+x%5E2+=+89
x%5E2+=+64
sqrt%28x%5E2%29+=+sqrt%2864%29
x = 8
Therefore, b = 8.
Hope I helped! Good luck! =)