Lots of points! The information given represents lengths of sides of a right triangle with c the hypotenuse. Find the correct missing length to the nearest hundredth. A calculator may be helpful.

a = 16, b = 28, c = ___

Which of the following answer choices would fit in the blank space?

A31.46

B31.94

C32.09

D32.25

Explain your answer please, don't just put one of the choices and leave! ;)

Pythagoras Theorem:
hipotenuse²=side1² +side2²

a=is the longest side of the triangle (hypotenuse)
b and c: are the other two sides.

In this case:
hipotenuse²=side₁² + side₂²

side₁=a=16
side₂=b=28

c²=16²+28²
c²=256+784
c²=1040
c=√1040=32.2490....≈32.25

Answer: D. 32.25

Answer Link

Anonymous Anonymous · Answer 2 · 2016-03-22T17:07:06-04:00

Hey there.

To solve this problem we have to use the Pythagorean theorem. The longest side of the triangle is called the "hypotenuse". C² is the longest side so it is the hypotenuse . To calculate c² we have to do α² + β² = c².

Given

⇒ a² = 16

⇒ b² = 28

⇒ c² = unknown

To solve the problem you have to add a² and b².

a² = 16
b² = 28

16² + 28² = c²

16² = 16 x 16
28² = 28 x 28

16² = 256
28² = 784

258 + 784 = 1040

a² + b² = 1040

The next step is to find the square root of 1040

√1042 = 32.2490

= 32.2490 is rounded to 32.25

Answer = (D)