Big Ideas Math: Modeling Real Life, Grade 8
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2. The Pythagorean Theorem
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Exercise 9 Page 386

9inches

Practice makes perfect
To find the missing side length of the triangle, we will use the Pythagorean Theorem. a^2+b^2=c^2

In the formula, a and b are the legs, and c is the hypotenuse of a right triangle. We are given a triangle with b=5.6inches and c=10.6inches.

Let's substitute these values into the formula.
a^2+b^2=c^2
a^2+ 5.6^2= 10.6^2
â–Ľ
Solve for a
a^2+31.36=112.36
a^2+31.36-31.36=112.36-31.36
a^2=81
a=sqrt(81)
a=9
Since a negative side length does not make sense, we only need to consider positive solutions.