The diagonal brace of a shipping crate is 53 inches. The length of the shipping crate is 45 inches. Find the height of the shipping crate.

if i would use a^2+b^2=c^2

would it be 53^2+45^2=c^2

is this right

5 answers

That can't be right because the height would be longer than the diagonal brace.

You're correct in using the Pythagorean Theorem, but let
a = height
b = length
c = diagonal
so would i set it up as

45^2 + 53^2 = H^2?

not sure then how to set up, been working on this one awhile now.
a^2 + 45^2 = 53^2
a^2 + 2025 = 2809
a^2 = 784
a = 28
Thank you!
You're welcome.