Question

B
15
C
А.
Find the length of "a"using
the Pythagorean Theorem.

Answer 1

a = 12

General Formulas and Concepts:

Pre-Algebra

• Order of Operations: BPEMDAS
• Equality Properties

Trigonometry

[Right Triangles Only] Pythagorean Theorem: a² + b² = c²

• a is a leg
• b is another leg
• c is the hypotenuse

Explanation:

Step 1: Identify

We are given a right triangle. We can use PT to solve for the missing length a.

Step 2: Define

hypotenuse c = 15

leg b = 9

leg a = ?

Step 3: Find missing length a

1. Substitute in variables: a² + 9² = 15²
2. Isolate a term: a² = 15² - 9²
3. Exponents: a² = 225 - 81
4. Subtract: a² = 144
5. Isolate a: a = ±12

Since we are not dealing with a quadrant triangle, we can disregard the negative root of the quadratic.

∴ a = 12 is our final answer.