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12Solve for a= ✓ [?]9aEnter the number thatgoes beneath theradical symbol.aEnter

12Solve for a= ✓ [?]9aEnter the number thatgoes beneath theradical symbol.aEnter-example-1
User MegaTux
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1 Answer

13 votes
13 votes

In order to calculate the value of 'a', we can use the Pythagorean theorem, where the hypotenuse squared is equal the sum of each leg squared:


h^2=l^2_1+l^2_2

So if the hypotenuse is 12 and the legs are 9 and 'a', we have:


\begin{gathered} 12^2=9^2+a^2 \\ 144=81+a^2 \\ a^2=144-81 \\ a^2=63 \\ a=\sqrt[]{63} \end{gathered}

So the number beneath the radical symbol is 63.

User SteveDJ
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