Question

On a recent test, Shawna was given the following problem:
25m
7m
a
Shawna's work is shown below:

Step 1: a2+72=252


Step 2: a2+14=50


Step 3: a2=36


a=6 m


In which step did Shawna make an error?

(1 point)
Responses

Step 4. She incorrectly solved for a
Step 4. She incorrectly solved for A

Step 3. She incorrectly isolated a2
Step 3. She incorrectly isolated A squared

Step 2. She incorrectly squared the numbers.
Step 2. She incorrectly squared the numbers.

Step 1. She incorrectly applied the Pythagorean theorem.

Answer 1

Shawna made an error in **Step 1**. The correct application of the Pythagorean theorem should relate the sides of a right triangle. If we have two sides (25 m and 7 m), and we want to find the hypotenuse \( a \), the correct formula using the Pythagorean theorem is:

\[ a^2 = 25^2 + 7^2 \]

Shawna wrote \( a^2 + 7^2 = 25^2 \), which is incorrect. The correct equation should be:

\[ a^2 = 25^2 + 7^2 \]

Thus, her mistake is in the way she applied the Pythagorean theorem in **Step 1**.