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For a right triangle ABC with right angle C, if AC = 4 and AB = 5, what is the length of BC in simplified form?

Answer 1

Draw a diagram to answer this question

Use pythagorean theorem to find the length of BC:
Say that BC = a
#a^2# + #b^2# = #c^2#
#a^2# = #c^2# - #b^2#
#a^2# = #5^2# - #4^2#
#a^2# = 25 - 16
#a^2# = 9
a = √9
a = 3

BC measures 4 cm

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Answer 2

Maverick Smith

Using the Pythagorean theorem, where in a right triangle, the square of the length of the hypotenuse (the side opposite the right angle) is equal to the sum of the squares of the lengths of the other two sides, the length of BC can be calculated as follows:

BC = √(AB^2 - AC^2) BC = √(5^2 - 4^2) BC = √(25 - 16) BC = √9 BC = 3

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Answer from HIX Tutor

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.