Question 352114
Solving Radical Equations (quadratic)

I am given a right triangle. One leg is a=7mm and the hypotenuse is c=7.4mm.

It says to find the length of the unknown side b of the given triangle and to also give the exact length and a one decimal place approximation.

{{{drawing(400, 1600/9,-1,8,-1,3, 
locate(3.5,0,a=7mm), locate(2.5,1.6,c=7.4mm), locate(7.1,1.2,b),
triangle(0,0,7,0,7,2.4), rectangle(6.75,0,7,.25) )}}}

We use the Pythagorean theorem:

{{{(hypotenuse)^2=(one_leg)^2+(other_leg)^2}}}

{{{c^2=a^2+b^2}}}

{{{7.4^2=7^2+b^2}}}

{{{54.76=49+b^2}}}

{{{5.76=b^2}}}

{{{b^2=5.76}}}

{{{b=sqrt(5.76)}}}

{{{b=2.4}}}

So the other leg b is 2.4mm.

That is the exact value.
`
Edwin</pre>