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Two sides of a right triangle have lengths of 2 centimeters and 7 centimeters. The third side is NOT the hypotenuse. How long is the third side?

User Muammer
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Use the Pythagorean Theorem: a² + b² = c².
a and b are the leg lengths and c is the hypotenuse.

The hypotenuse is the longest side of the three, so you know the hypotenuse is 7 cm.

We'll make 2 cm = a, and the third side = b.
Plug these into the formula.

2² + b² = 7²
4 + b² = 49
b² = 45
Square root b and 45 to find the length of the third side.

√b = √45
b = 6.71

The third side is 6.71 centimeters.
User Johnny Everson
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