Question

Using the Pythagorean theorem, find the measure of the missing leg if a = 8m and c = 17m on a right triangle,
A. b = 9m
B. b = 14m
C. b = 15m
D. b = 16m

Answer 1

\[8^2+b^2=17^2\] solve for \(b^2\) then for \(b\)

Answer 2

or if you want to be fancy and do it in one step you can write
\[b=\sqrt{17^2-8^2}\] but you still have to compute