how do I find the missing side of a right triangle?
Use the formula: The square of the hyptonuse equals the sum of the square of the two sides.
c^2 = a^2 + b^2
To find the missing side of 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 other two sides.
Here are the steps to find the missing side:
1. Identify the two known sides: In a right triangle, you typically have a base (also known as the adjacent side) and a height (also known as the opposite side) with the right angle. The missing side, which is the hypotenuse, can also be given.
2. Substitute the known values: Plug the known values into the Pythagorean theorem equation: c^2 = a^2 + b^2, where c represents the hypotenuse, and a and b represent the other two sides.
3. Solve for the missing side: Rearrange the equation to isolate the missing side. For example, if you are trying to find the hypotenuse (c), you would take the square root of both sides of the equation: c = √(a^2 + b^2).
4. Simplify and calculate: Calculate the square root of the sum of the squares of the other two sides. This will give you the length of the missing side.
By following these steps, you will be able to find the missing side of a right triangle using the Pythagorean theorem.