To find side $ a $ use Pythagorean Theorem:

$$ a^2 + b^2 = d^2 $$

After substituting $b = 10\, \text{cm}$ and $d = 16\, \text{cm}$ we have:

$$ a ^ {\,2} + \left( 10\, \text{cm} \right)^{2} = \left( 16\, \text{cm} \right)^{2} $$ $$ a ^ {\,2} = \left( 16\, \text{cm} \right)^{2} - \left( 10\, \text{cm} \right)^{2} $$ $$ a ^ {\,2} = 256\, \text{cm}^2 - 100\, \text{cm}^2 $$ $$ a ^ {\,2} = 156\, \text{cm}^2 $$ $$ a = \sqrt{ 156\, \text{cm}^2 } $$$$ a = 2 \sqrt{ 39 }\, \text{cm} $$

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