How do you use the Pythagorean Theorem to find the missing side of the triangle given: b = 5, c = 8?

Question

How do you use the Pythagorean Theorem to find the missing side of the triangle given: b = 5, c = 8?

1 Answer

Impact of this question

1535 views around the world

You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License

Answer 1 · 2016-04-19T13:38:20

If 8 is the hypotenuse than side $a = \sqrt{39}$ $a=sqrt(39)$

If 8 is not the hypotenuse than sude $a = \sqrt{89}$ $a=sqrt(89)$

Explanation:

You have not declared if the triangle is a right triangle ( has a 90 degree angle) nor have you declared if the side c is the hypotenuse or not. However, by including the use of Pythagoras you have implied it is a right triangle.

Let the unknown side be labeled $a$ $a$

$Assumption 1: It is a right triangle and 8 is the hypotenuse$ $color(blue)("Assumption 1: It is a right triangle and 8 is the hypotenuse")$

$\Rightarrow a^{2} = 8^{2} - 5^{2} = 64 - 25 = 39$ $=>a^2=8^2-5^2" " =" " 64-25" "=" "39$

$a = \sqrt{39}$ $a=sqrt(39)$

'~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

$Assumption 2: It is a right triangle and 8 is not the hypotenuse$ $color(blue)("Assumption 2: It is a right triangle and 8 is not the hypotenuse")$

$\to a^{2} = 8^{2} + 5^{2} = 89$ $->a^2=8^2+5^2 =89$

$\Rightarrow a = \sqrt{89}$ $=>a=sqrt(89)$

Science

Math

Humanities

... and beyond

How do you use the Pythagorean Theorem to find the missing side of the triangle given: b = 5, c = 8?

1 Answer

Explanation:

Related questions

Impact of this question