Question

Use the Pythagorean Theorem to find the missing length in the right triangle

12 cm
a
17 cm
The missing length is
cm.
(Round to one decimal place as needed.)

Answer 1

it depends

Explanation:

If 17 is the hypotenuse

`c=17\\\\b=12\\\\a=?\\\\c^(2) =a^2+b^2\\\\17^2=a^2+12^2\\\\17^2-12^2=a^2\\\\(17-12)(17+12)=a^2\\\\5(27)=a^2\\\\a=√(9*3*5) \\\\a=3√(15) \\\\a=11.6`

if you are looking for the hypotenuse

`a=17\\\\b=12\\\\c=?\\\\a^2+b^2=c^2\\\\17^2+12^2=c^2\\\\289+144=c^2\\\\433=c^2\\\\c=√(433) \\\\c=20.8`