In a right triangle I need to find the length of the missing side.

If..
a = ?
b = 1
c = sqrt(5)

I would know what to do if the square root wasn't there or if it were a perfect square but it's not, please help...

(P.S. if I need to I have to keep it in radical form)

a=2

a^2=c^2-b^2

a^2=(√5)^2 - 1^2
a^2= 5 -1
√a^2 = √4
a=2

Thank you so much, I understand how to get rid of my square root now

Good, you're welcome.

To find the length of the missing side in a right triangle, you can use the Pythagorean theorem. The Pythagorean theorem states that in a right triangle, the square of the length of the hypotenuse (the side opposite the right angle) is equal to the sum of the squares of the lengths of the other two sides.

In this case, you are given the lengths of two sides:

Side b = 1 (let's call this the shorter leg)
Side c = √5 (let's call this the hypotenuse)

To find the length of the missing side (let's call it side a), you can use the formula:

a² + b² = c²

Substituting the given values:

a² + 1² = (√5)²

a² + 1 = 5

Now, you can solve for a:

a² = 5 - 1

a² = 4

Taking the square root of both sides:

√a² = √4

a = 2

So, the length of the missing side (a) is 2.

If you need to express the answer in radical form, you can write it as a = 2. However, if you want to keep it in radical form, you can express it as a = √4.

Thus, the length of the missing side is either 2 or √4, depending on whether you're seeking a whole number solution or a solution in radical form.