How to find the length of the second side of a triangle
Answers
Answer:
Right Triangle Using Pythagorean Theorem
Draw the Triangle
Draw the triangle on your paper labeling the two sides adjacent to the right angle, or legs, “a” and “b.” Label the hypotenuse, or third side “c.”
Set Up Your Equation
Set up your equation so that a2 + b2 = c2. This is the Pythagorean Theorem used for solving for the unknown side.
Fill In the Lengths
Fill in the lengths you know in the equation. The hypotenuse is always the longest side in a right triangle. This is a great way to check your work, because if either of the legs is longer than the hypotenuse, you know you have made an error.
Solve for the Unknown Side
Solve for the unknown side. If you are solving for the hypotenuse, you fill in the “a” and “b,” square both numbers and then add the numbers together. Use your calculator to get the square root of the resulting sum to reach your answer. If you are solving for one of the legs of, you need to move the other leg to the same side as the “c” by subtracting. This leaves the remaining leg alone, allowing you to solve for it. This means you square the “c” number and the known leg. Subtract the squared leg value from the squared c value. Get the square root of the resulting number and you have your answer for the unknown leg.