Question

The length of two sides of a right triangle are 12 inches and 15 inches what is the difference between the two possible lenght of the third side of the triangle

Answer 1

Assume the 3rd side is the hypotenuse:

a² + b² = c²

c² = 12² + 15²

c² = 369

c = √369

c = 19.21 inches (nearest hundredth)

Assume the 3rd side is not the hypotenuse:

a² + b² = c²

12² + b² = 15²

b² = 15² - 12²

b² = 81

b = √81

b = 9 inches

Difference between the two length:

19.21 - 9 = 10.21 inches

Answer: 10.21 inches