How do you find the missing lengths of the sides of a right triangle given the legs 4 and the hypotenuse 6?

1 Answer
Shantelle
Apr 5, 2018

The missing side length of the right triangle is #sqrt20# or about #4.47#.

Explanation:

When we talk about the side lengths of a right triangle, we typically use the Pythagorean Theorem, as shown here:
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(study.com)

We are the length of the a leg of the triangle (#4#) and the hypotenuse (#6#).

So we can plug in these values into the equation and solve for the other side length. Let's say that the given side length is #a#:
#(4)^2 + b^2 = (6)^2#

And now we simplify:
#16 + b^2 = 36#

Subtract both sides by #16#:
#b^2 = 20#

#b = sqrt20# or about #4.47#

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