Multiple Choice
In a right triangle, one leg has length , the hypotenuse has length , and is the length of the other leg. What is the value of ?
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2. Trigonometric Functions on Right Triangles
Solving Right Triangles
Multiple Choice
Given a right triangle with one leg of length and hypotenuse of length , what is the approximate length of the other leg?
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Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the given elements of the right triangle: one leg has length 5, and the hypotenuse has length 13.
Recall the Pythagorean theorem, which states that in a right triangle, the square of the hypotenuse (c) equals the sum of the squares of the legs (a and b): \(c^2 = a^2 + b^2\).
Assign the known values to the formula: let the unknown leg be \(b\), so \$13^2 = 5^2 + b^2$.
Calculate the squares of the known sides: \$169 = 25 + b^2$.
Isolate \(b^2\) by subtracting 25 from both sides: \(b^2 = 169 - 25\), then find \(b\) by taking the square root of \(b^2\).
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