The Pythagorean theorem is a fundamental relation in geometry that applies to right triangles. It states:
a² + b² = c²
where a and b are the lengths of the legs (the two sides perpendicular to each other), and c is the length of the hypotenuse (the side opposite the right angle).
In your case, both legs are 2.4 inches:
- a = 2.4 inches
- b = 2.4 inches
Step-by-step, here is how to find c:
- First, square both sides:
a² = (2.4)² = 5.76
b² = (2.4)² = 5.76 - Add the squares:
a² + b² = 5.76 + 5.76 = 11.52 - Take the square root of the sum to find c:
c = √11.52 - Calculate the square root:
c ≈ 3.394 inches
Answer: The length of side c (the hypotenuse) is approximately 3.39 inches.