Question

Find the area of the smallest side of the right triangle. Show your work. Box your answer.

Answer 1

25 ft²

Explanation:

The hypotenuse =
`√(169)` = 13 ft

the side with area 144 ft² =
`√(144)` = 12 ft

Using Pythagoras' identity to find the third side x ( smallest )

x² + 12² = 13²

x² + 144 = 169 ( subtract 144 from both sides )

x² = 25 ( take the square root of both sides )

x =
`√(25)` = 5

Thus area of smallest side = 5² = 25 ft²