Answer:
60
Step-by-step explanation:
You have the proper formula. You just need to swap some things around so we aren't solving for C. C is always the hypotenuse, the diagonal line opposite the right triangle. A and B can be either side unless specified.
1. The side we're solving for can either be called a or b. Let's call it A.
2. Now, switch around the theorem to solve for a: [tex]C^2-B^2=A^2\\[/tex]
3. Plug in what we know: [tex]8^2-2^2=a^2[/tex]
4. It simplifies down to [tex]60=a^2[/tex]
5. The "[tex]a^2[/tex] " means to square the a. We need to undo that to get a by itself. The opposite of squared is the square root
6. This leaves us to take the square root of both sides, which isolates a.
7. [tex]\sqrt{60}[/tex] is the answer. It's asking for it in the square root so we don't need to simplify it.
