Question

The Pythagorean theorem, a^2+b^2=c^2, is used to calculate the side length of a right triangle. Which equation can be used to calculate the missing side length, b, of a right triangle?

Answer 1

answer A : b=√(c-a)

Explanation:

a²+b²=c²

subtract a² from both sides to isolate b²

b²=c²-a²

take the square root of both sides to get from what b² equals to what b equals

b=√(c-a)

Answer 2

D b = sqrt(c^2 -a^2)

Explanation:

We are using the Pythagorean theorem,

a^2+b^2=c^2

We want to solve for b

Subtract a^2 from each side

a^2 -a^2+b^2=c^2-a^2

b^2 = c^2 -a^2

Take the square root of each side

sqrt(b^2) = sqrt(c^2 -a^2)

b = sqrt(c^2 -a^2)