question find the length of the third side. if necessary, write in simplest radical form. answer attempt 1…

question find the length of the third side. if necessary, write in simplest radical form. answer attempt 1 out of 2

question find the length of the third side. if necessary, write in simplest radical form. answer attempt 1 out of 2

Answer

Explanation:

Step1: Recall Pythagorean theorem

For a right - triangle with sides $a$, $b$ and hypotenuse $c$, $a^{2}+b^{2}=c^{2}$. Let the two given sides be $a = 3\sqrt{3}$ and $b = 6$. We need to find the third side. There are two cases: if the third side is the hypotenuse $c$, then $c^{2}=(3\sqrt{3})^{2}+6^{2}$; if the third side is a non - hypotenuse side, say $a$, then $6^{2}=a^{2}+(3\sqrt{3})^{2}$. First, assume the third side is the hypotenuse. [c^{2}=(3\sqrt{3})^{2}+6^{2}] [c^{2}=3^{2}\times(\sqrt{3})^{2}+36] [c^{2}=9\times3 + 36] [c^{2}=27+36] [c^{2}=63] [c=\sqrt{63}=\sqrt{9\times7}=3\sqrt{7}] Now assume the third side is a non - hypotenuse side. Let the hypotenuse be 6. Then [6^{2}=a^{2}+(3\sqrt{3})^{2}] [36=a^{2}+27] [a^{2}=36 - 27=9] [a = 3] Since the hypotenuse is the longest side in a right - triangle and $6>3\sqrt{3}$, the third side we want (non - hypotenuse) is 3.

Answer:

3