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Find the missing side lengths.

Can someone please help???

Find the missing side lengths. Can someone please help???-example-1
User RMT
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1 Answer

3 votes

Answer:

x = sqrt (2), y = sqrt (2)

Explanation:

Here is how we can approach this problem in a step by step solution:

  1. Look at what we are given - we know that the triangle is a right triangle (has a square on one of its angles representing 90 degrees), and the hypotenuse (the side opposite 90 degree angle) is 2 units long, and one of the other angles is 45 degrees
  2. Using this information about angle measurements, we can solve for the third angle using the sum of angles in a triangle equals 180 degrees theorem: 180 - 90 - 45 = 45. After solving, we get that the final angle is 45 degrees
  3. Now, we know that the angles of the triangle are 90, 45, and 45 degrees. Using the base angle theorem, we know that his triangle must be an isocoles right triangle
  4. That means that both legs of the triangle must be congruent (x = y)
  5. Finally, we can use the Pythagorean theorem because this is a right triangle to solve for the missing sides 4 = x^2 + y^2, 4 = 2 + 2, x = sqrt (2) y = sqrt (2)

*Also, if you knew that a 45-45-90 triangle's sides form a ratio of a, a, and sqrt (2) a, you could also use that and substitute in the values to solve. Both ways work! Hope this helps!!

User Michael Queue
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