5 ft 8 ft pythagorean theorem: $a^{2}+b^{2}=c^{2}$

$5 ft 8 ft pythagorean theorem: $a^{2}+b^{2}=c^{2}$$

Let $b = 5$ ft and $c=8$ ft. The Pythagorean theorem is $a^{2}+b^{2}=c^{2}$, and we want to find $a$. So, $a^{2}=c^{2}-b^{2}$.

$a^{2}=8^{2}-5^{2}=64 - 25=39$.

$a=\sqrt{39}\text{ ft}$.

$\sqrt{39}\text{ ft}$