Given the triangle ABC, find the length BC
Right Triangle Side Length: Find BC Given Sides 5 and 13
Question
Video Solution
Solution Steps
00:00 Find BC
00:03 We'll use the Pythagorean theorem in a right triangle
00:11 We'll substitute appropriate values and solve for BC
00:19 Isolate BC
00:32 Take the square root
00:39 And this is the solution to the problem
Step-by-Step Solution
To answer this question, we must know the Pythagorean Theorem
The theorem allows us to calculate the sides of a right triangle.
We identify the sides:
ab = a = 5
bc = b = ?
ac = c = 13
We replace the data in the exercise:
5²+?² = 13²
We swap the sections
?²=13²-5²
?²=169-25
?²=144
?=12
Answer
12 cm