Question

If b=24 and c=10 what is for the missing side a= ? by Use the Pythagorean Theorem to find.

Answer 1

a = 26

a ~ 21.8

Read explanation

Explanation:

There are two possibilities;

`a^(2)+c^(2)=b^(2)`

Or

`b^(2)+c^(2)=a^(2)`

This is because one doesn't know the longest side, and hence there are two possibilities as to what the longest side is.

1.
`a^(2)+c^(2)=b^(2)`

Substitute in the given values;

`a^(2)+(10)^(2)=(24)^(2)`

`a^(2)+100=576`

`a^(2)=476`

a=
`√(476)`

a~21.8

2.
`b^(2)+c^(2)=a^(2)`

Substitute in the given values;

`(24)^(2)+(10)^(2)=a^(2)`

`576+100=a^(2)`

`676=a^(2)`

`26=a`