Using the Pythagorean theorem how would you find B if A =12 and c=17?

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Answer 1 · 2016-08-11T17:15:21

Depending on which side is the hypotenuse,

$b = sqrt145, or b = sqrt 433$

It is not clear from the question which side is the hypotenuse.
The sides are usually given as either AB or $c$ and not A or B which indicate points.

Let's consider both cases.

"If c is the hypotenuse"

$a^2 + b^2 = c^2 " "rArr b^2 = c^2 - a^2$

$b^2 = 17^2 - 12^2$

$b^2 = 145$

$b = sqrt145 = 12.04$
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If $c$ is NOT the hypotenuse.

$b^2 = a^2 + c^2$

$b^2 = 12^2 + 17^2$

$b^2 = 433$

$b= sqrt 433 = 20.81$