Use the image to answer the question.

A right triangle shows the base with a value of 3, the hypotenuse on the left with a value of 15, and the perpendicular side to the base on the right with a question mark.

Apply the Pythagorean Theorem to find the unknown side length in the given triangle. Round your answer to the nearest tenth.

(1 point)
Responses

216
216

15.3
15.3

234
234

14.7

1 answer

To find the unknown side length of the right triangle using the Pythagorean Theorem, we can apply the formula:

\[ a^2 + b^2 = c^2 \]

where:

  • \( a \) is one leg of the triangle (the base),
  • \( b \) is the other leg of the triangle (the perpendicular side),
  • \( c \) is the hypotenuse.

From the information provided:

  • \( a = 3 \)
  • \( c = 15 \)

We need to find \( b \).

Plugging the values into the Pythagorean theorem:

\[ 3^2 + b^2 = 15^2 \]

Calculating the squares:

\[ 9 + b^2 = 225 \]

Now, isolate \( b^2 \) by subtracting 9 from both sides:

\[ b^2 = 225 - 9 \] \[ b^2 = 216 \]

Next, take the square root of both sides to find \( b \):

\[ b = \sqrt{216} \]

Calculating the square root:

\[ b \approx 14.7 \]

Rounding to the nearest tenth, the unknown side length is approximately \( 14.7 \).

Thus, the correct response is 14.7.