Answer:
8 ft
Step-by-step explanation:
since it is a right angled triangle and you have 2 side lengths, we use the pythagoras theorem here.
a² + b² = c²
the c² is always your hypotenuse (longest side of the triangle, also opposite to the right angles)
*the b and a doesnt matter which order you put it in*
so; (sub in the numbers to the formula)
a² + 12² = 13²
(rearrange - like terms together)
a² = 13² - 12²
(calculate it)
a² = 25
(simplify it - get rid of the ² on the a)
a = √25
(solve)
a = 5
so, we know that a = 5 and we know that we have an additional 3
5 + 3 = 8
