Question

what is the length of the missing leg? if necessary, round to the nearest tenth.
a = \square meters

Explanation:

Step1: Apply Pythagorean theorem

For a right triangle, $c^2 = a^2 + b^2$, where $c=10$ m, $b=5$ m. Rearrange to solve for $a$:
$a = \sqrt{c^2 - b^2}$

Step2: Substitute known values

$a = \sqrt{10^2 - 5^2}$

Step3: Calculate inside the square root

$10^2 - 5^2 = 100 - 25 = 75$

Step4: Compute and round

$a = \sqrt{75} \approx 8.7$

Answer:

8.7 meters