Question

Here is a right triangle with a missing side length what is the missing side length

Answer 1

Right Triangles

A right triangle is recognized because it has an interior angle of 90°.

In right triangles, the Pythagora's Theorem is satisfied.

Being a and b the shorter sides (also called legs) of the triangle, and c the longer side (called hypotenuse), then:

`c^2=a^2+b^2`

The triangle shown in the image has the two legs of values a=15 and b=8. The hypotenuse is c=x, thus:

`x^2=15^2+8^2`

Operating:

`x^2=225+64=289`

Solving for x:

`x=\sqrt[]{289}=17`

x = 17