How do you find the missing sides of a right triangle given a = ____, b = 24, c = 30?

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Answer 1 · 2015-05-19T05:17:08

Side #a=18# .

We will use the Pythagorean theorem: #a^2+b^2=c^2#.

#a=?#

#b=24; b^2=24^2=576#

#c=30; c^2=30^2=900#

Solve #a^2+b^2=c^2# for #a^2#.

#c^2-b^2=a^2#

#900-576=324#

#a^2=324#

Take the square root of #324# to find side #a#.

#a=sqrt(a^2)=sqrt 324=18#

Answer 2 · 2015-05-21T04:49:04

Another simple way.
Ratio of the sides of right triangle: 3 : 4: 5
Ratio --> 18: 24: 30.
Then a = 18.