Question 145010
The lengths of the sides of a right triangle always have this relationship where {{{a}}} and {{{b}}} are the lengths of the legs of the triangle and {{{c}}} is the length of the hypotenuse:  {{{a^2+b^2=c^2}}}, which can also be written as {{{a^2=c^2-b^2}}} from which you get {{{a=sqrt(c^2-b^2)}}}.  Just plug in the lengths of the hypotenuse and one leg for {{{c}}} and {{{b}}} and then do the arithmetic to find {{{a}}}.


You might also notice that {{{52=4*green(13)}}} and {{{48=4*green(12)}}} which would be meaningful if you also remembered that a triangle with sides of 13, 12, and 5 is always a right triangle.