Question

What is the length of EF in the right triangle below?

Answer 1

36

Explanation:

use the Pythagorean theorem, which is a^2+b^2=c^2 where c is always the hypotenuse and a & b can be interchangeable because they are just the legs.

in this case the hyp is 39

so 39^2=15^2+EF^2

which can also be 39^2-15^2=ef^2

1521-225=ef^2

now square root both sides to get just ef

ef= square root of 1296

ef=36