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the pythagorean theorem
So, before we can work out
anything else, we need to
quickly find how long the
rope can safely be, right?
What’s the longest the rope can be without going below the safety line?
Q:
The Pythagorean Theorem formula (c
2
= a
2
+ b
2
) looks
like it’s for finding the hypotenuse (c). But sometimes we’re
finding a length of a short side. How do I know what I’m
supposed to be finding and how to find it?
A: You can rearrange the formula to focus on one of the short
sides (legs). Like a
2
= c
2
– b
2
or b
2
= c
2
– a
2
, but the most reliable
thing to do is to focus on the meaning behind the pattern. If you’re
looking for the hypotenuse remember that the squares of the two
shortest sides add up to make the square ...