Question & Answer

Solve a² + b² = c² for c. c = Use coordinates to write an expression for the distance between the two points. c = √(_______ – _______)² + (_______ – _______)².

Solve a² + b² = c² for c.
c =

Use coordinates to write an expression for the distance between the two points.
c = √(_______ – _______)² + (_______ – _______)²

1 Answer

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Quizzma TeamFebruary 1, 2025

To solve for ( c ) in the equation ( a^2 + b^2 = c^2 ), we can rearrange it:

1. Start with the original equation:

[

a^2 + b^2 = c^2

]

2. To solve for ( c ), take the square root of both sides:

[

c = sqrt{a^2 + b^2}

]

Now, for the distance between two points ((x_1, y_1)) and ((x_2, y_2)), the expression is given by:

[

c = sqrt{(x_2 – x_1)^2 + (y_2 – y_1)^2}

]

So, filling in the blanks in your expression gives:

[

c = sqrt{(x_2 – x_1)^2 + (y_2 – y_1)^2}

]

This formula is derived from the Pythagorean theorem, where the differences in the x-coordinates and y-coordinates represent the legs of a right triangle, and ( c ) represents the length of the hypotenuse (the distance between the two points). If you need further assistance or examples, feel free to ask!