In triangle ABC, where C=90 degrees, If a=2, and c=6, what does b equal?

Question

I've been working on this for a bit now.. and I've totally muddled it. I have got b= square root ( square root (10) - 4) and I know that's wrong.

Can anyone show me how to work this problem out, step by step?

Answer 1

I drew a picture of the triangle. label the legs of it a,b,c.

Then I wrote the numbers next to the letters.

I then plugged the numbers into the pythagorean theorem(It is a right triangle). and you get

a(squared) +b(squared)=c(squared)

2(squared) +b(squared) = 6(squared)

so your formula is

4+b(squared)=36

subtract 4 from 36 and you get 32

find the square root of 32 and that should give you the answer.

Good Luck, someone please correct her if I'm wrong.

Answer 2

Phytagoras Theorem

a^2 + b^2 = c^2

where c is the hypotenuse of right triangle.

a^2 + b^2 = c^2

2^2 + b^2 = 6^2

4 + b^2 = 36

b^2 = 36 - 4

b^2 = 32

b = sqrt of 32

b = sqrt (16x2)

b = 4 sqrt of 2

So, the b is 4V2 (four and square root of 2)

Hope this helps! ^_^

Answer 3

the formula in getting the sides of the right triangle is

c^2 = a^2 +b^2

since a and c is given then

b = square root (c^2 -a^2)

then

b = square root (6^2 - 2^2)

b = square root(36 - 4)

b = square root of (32)

or

b = 5 square root of 7

i hope it helped!