Question

Two sides of a right triangle have lengths of 4 centimeters and 7 centimeters. The third side is no the hypotenuse. How long is the third side?

Answer 1

√33 cm ≈ 5.745 cm

Explanation:

Let b represent the third side. If the third side is not the hypotenuse, then the longest of the given sides must be the hypotenuse. The Pythagorean theorem tells us ...

4^2 + b^2 = 7^2

b^2 = 49 -16 = 33 . . . . . . . . subtract 16

b = √33 ≈ 5.745 . . . . . . . . . take the square root

The third side is √33 cm long, about 5.745 cm.