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Solve Pythagoras for a leg

Solve Pythagoras equation for a leg

This math skill teaches how to solve for a missing leg in a right triangle using the Pythagorean theorem. It involves squaring the known leg and the hypotenuse, subtracting the square of the known leg from the square of the hypotenuse, and taking the square root of the result to find the missing leg.

Learn solve Pythagoras for a leg

Teaching Transcript

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Let's find the length of the missing leg side of this right triangle

Pythagoras tells us that 'A' squared plus 'B' squared = 'C' squared where 'C' is the hypotenuse

So we know that 'A' squared plus 4 squared equals 5 squared

If we subtract 4 squared from both sides we have 'A' squared equal to 5 squared minus 4 squared

So 'A' squared is 25 minus 16, which is 9

So 'A' is the square root of 9, which would be 3

Skill Practice

Solve Pythagoras equation for a leg

Test your understanding of solve Pythagoras for a leg by practicing it! Work through the below exercises to use it in practice.