How do you solve for the missing side, c, of a right triangle if #a=12# and #b=16#?

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Answer 1 · 2018-03-03T21:20:00

See a solution process below:

The Pythagorean Theorem states, for a right triangle:

#c^2 = a^2 + b^2#

Where:

Substituting and solving for #c# gives:

#c^2 = 12^2 + 16^2#

#c^2 = 144 + 256#

#c^2 = 400#

#sqrt(c^2) = sqrt(400)#

#c = 20#