Example 2: The triangle below is a right triangle. Solve for x.

Fill in the blanks.

• The Pythagorean Theorem is ____?____
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  Check Your Answer

  a² + b² = c²
  
• Substitute x in for the length of the missing leg. _____?______
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  Check Your Answer

  a² + x² = c²
  
• Substitute the lengths of the known leg and hypotenuse, respectively, for a and c.____?_____
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  Check Your Answer

  9² + x² = 15²
  
• Square the numerical values _______?________
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  Check Your Answer

  81 + x² = 225
  
• Use the subtraction property to isolate x ______?______
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  Check Your Answer

  81 - 81 + x² = 225 - 81
  
• Simplify _____?______
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  Check Your Answer

  x² = 144
  
• Take the square root of both sides. ______?______ ***NOTE: Since the radicals represent lengths only the positive value is used.
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  Check Your Answer

  √x² = √144
  

• Simplify both radicals. ______?______
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  Check Your Answer

  x = 12