The information given represents lengths of sides of a right triangle with c the hypotenuse. Find the correct missing length to the nearest hundredth. A calculator may be helpful.

a = ?, b = 12, c = 19

14.03
14.38
14.73
15.07

Question

The information given represents lengths of sides of a right triangle with c the hypotenuse. Find the correct missing length to the nearest hundredth. A calculator may be helpful.

a = ?, b = 12, c = 19


       14.03
       14.38
       14.73
       15.07

anonymous · Answer

c

jim_thompson5910 · Answer

Use the pythagorean theorem to get


a^2 + b^2 = c^2


a^2 + 12^2 = 19^2


a^2 + 144 = 361


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...
...


a = ???

anonymous · Answer

@Nylyak  got what @jim_thompson5910  said right?

anonymous · Answer

$$a=\sqrt{361-144}$$
which becomes:
$$a=\sqrt{217}$$