given a right triangle ABC with the right angle at B find AB if AC = 25 in and BC = 6 in Approximate the length of AB to two decimal places
Pythagorean theorem; a² + b² = c²
BC is a leg = 6
AC is the hypotenuse = 25
AB is a leg = x
The hypotenuse will always be c in the theorem equation. As for a and b it doesn't matter which leg you use.
6² + b² = 25²
36 + b² = 625
Subtract constant, in this case 36, from both sides to get b² by itself.
b² = 589
To get rid of the ²(squared) you would do the opposite which is a √(square root)
√b = √589
b = 24.26932222...
Question calls for the answer in two decimal places;
b = 24.27