Question

what is the length of the missing leg? if necessary, round to the nearest tenth.
a = square feet
(there is a right triangle with one leg 2 ft, hypotenuse 9 ft, and the other leg is a)

Explanation:

Step1: Apply Pythagorean theorem

Let hypotenuse $c=9$, leg $b=2$. The theorem is $a^2 + b^2 = c^2$, so rearrange to $a = \sqrt{c^2 - b^2}$.

Step2: Substitute values into formula

$a = \sqrt{9^2 - 2^2} = \sqrt{81 - 4} = \sqrt{77}$

Step3: Calculate and round to nearest tenth

$\sqrt{77} \approx 8.8$

Answer:

8.8 feet