Question

Triangle ABC has side lengths 8 inches, 17 inches, and 15 inches. Sofia uses the following steps to conclude that triangle ABC is not a right triangle.


`a^(2) +b^(2) =c^(2) \\8^(2) +17^(2) =15^(2) \\64+289=225\\353\\eq 225`

What mistake did Sofia make?

A Sofia made a calculation error.
B Sofia used the length of one of the legs as c when she should have used the length of the longest side as c.
C Sofia does not know if triangle ABC is a right triangle, so she cannot use the Pythagorean Theorem or its converse.
D Sofia’s conclusion is incorrect. When the sides of a triangle do not satisfy a2+b2=c2, you cannot conclude that the triangle is a right triangle.

Answer 1

Answer: Its b.

Step-by-step explanation: The hypothenuse is the biggest number and the leg is the two shortest numbers.