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39 votes
39 votes
Length of leg b = . pls help me

Length of leg b = . pls help me-example-1
User Meghan
by
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1 Answer

26 votes
26 votes

Answer:

20

Explanation:

We can solve for the unknown base using Pythagorean's theorem.

Remember Pythagorean's theorem goes as such:


a^2+b^2=c^2

Where a and b are the two legs and c is the hypotenuse. We know one leg and the hypotenuse so we can insert our known values and solve for the unknown.


15^2+b^2=25^2\\225+b^2=625\\b^2=400\\b=20

Or using trigonometry:

Note this is a 45-45-90 triangle, therefore all angles are known.

I'll use the sin function with the B angle.


sin(45)=(b)/(25) \\25*sin(45)=b\\17.67=b

I'm assuming this problem was not made for trig, although the answer is still close.

User Scott Driscoll
by
2.7k points