Instrument used to measure temperature?

radiative zone

explanation    

radiative zone is the layer of the sun which energy is transferred away from the core by radiation. although, the core is the only part of the sun that produces an appreciable amount of heat through fusion. in fact, 99% of the energy produced by the sun takes place within 24% of the sun's radius.

the answer would be the third option, "no, ariel should have added 9^2 and 12^2 and compared that to 15^2."

this is found through the pythagorean theorem, which is a^2 + b^2 = c^2.

this is the correct way of solving the problem:

9^2 + 12^2 = 15^2

81 + 144 = 225

225 = 225