Question

In a right triangle, if the length of the hypotenuse is $5$and the length of one of the other sides is $3$, what is the length of the third side?

Short answer

The solution is$4$.

Step-by-step solution

Step 1. Given information 

The length of the hypotenuse is $5$and the length of one of the other sides is $3$.

Step 2. Calculation 

Let the hypotenuse be $a$, the length of one of the other sides be $b$and the length of the third side be $c$. Now -

$a^2=b^2+c^2$ Pythagorean theorem

$5^2=3^2+c^2$

$c^2=5^2-3^2$

$c=\sqrt{5^2-3^2}$

$=\sqrt{25-9}$

$=\sqrt{16}$

$=4$

So, the length of the third side is$4$.