Question

side lengths of 84, 85 and ___ would form a right triangle.

Answer 1

Use the Pythagorean theorem.
A^2+B^2=C^2

Answer 2

84^2+85^2=c^2

Answer 3

ok i can square them by just saying 84*84=7056
85*85=7225
and then i add them?

Answer 4

yes :)

Answer 5

So now what does that equal

Answer 6

14281...

Answer 7

ok.
Now set that equal to c^2
14281=c^2
What do you think is your next step?

Answer 8

im not sure maybe divide by three? I'm terrible at this

Answer 9

don't stress it. You're learning. :)
When you have a variable which is squared, equal to another number, you should take the square root. When you get to higher math levels, there will be different cases when the variable is to a higher power. But right now we are just dealing with squareds.
So first lets take the square root of both c^2 and 14281

Answer 10

What will the square root of 14281 equal?

Answer 11

so 14281 * itself

Answer 12

no no, take the square root of 14281