SOLUTION: The following are the lengths of two sides of a right triangle: one leg is 3 cm and the hypotenuse is 5 cm. Find the length of the missing leg

Algebra ->  Triangles -> SOLUTION: The following are the lengths of two sides of a right triangle: one leg is 3 cm and the hypotenuse is 5 cm. Find the length of the missing leg      Log On


   

Question 711151: The following are the lengths of two sides of a right triangle: one leg is 3 cm and the hypotenuse is 5 cm. Find the length of the missing leg
Found 2 solutions by tutor_paul, srinivas.g:
Answer by tutor_paul(519) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Use the Pythagorean theorum to solve this:
a%5E2%2Bb%5E2=c%5E2
Where a and b are the sides, and c is the hypotenuse.
---------------------
3%5E2%2Bb%5E2=5%5E2
9%2Bb%5E2=25
b%5E2=16
highlight%28b=4%29
---------------------
Note this is what is called a 3-4-5 right triangle. This rule applies to all similar triangles to the 3-4-5, so you can solve for the sides of this kind of triangle easily. For example, if you are given a=6, b=8, you automatically know that c=10, since this is a "3-4-5 times 2."
==================
Good Luck,
tutor_paul@yahoo.com

Answer by srinivas.g(540) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
as per pythagoras theorem


side ^2 + side ^2 = hypotenuse ^2
3^2 + missing side ^2 = 5^2
9 + missing side ^2 = 25
missing side ^2 = 25-9
missing side ^2 =16
missing side = sqrt (16)
= 4 cm
answer = 4 cm