Question

Using the pythagorean theorem, how do you solve for the missing side given a = 15 and b = 16?

Answer 1

`c = sqrt{481}`

Explanation:

According to the Pythagorean Theorem:
`a^{2}+b^{2} = c^{2}`
(`a` and `b` represent the legs of a right triangle and `c` represents the hypotenuse)

Therefore we can substitute and simplify:
`15^{2}+16^{2} = c^{2}`
`225+256 = c^{2}`
`481 = c^{2}`

Then take the square root of both sides:
`sqrt{481} = c`