How do you find the missing length for the right triangle below the short side is 9cm and the hypotenuse is 30 cm?

1 Answer
Apr 21, 2016

28.62cm

Explanation:

The Pythagorean theorem is this: a2+b2=c2, where c is the hypotenuse (which is the longest side and is opposite the right angle), and a and b are the other sides. Given the information we have, we can say that:
92+b2=302, where b is the unknown side.
Now its a matter of rearranging and solving:
b2=30292
b2=90081
b2=819
b=28.618
And if you type that into your calculator you'll get b=28.62cm (Don't forget units)