Question

If one leg of a triangle is 4 feet and the other leg is 12 feet, what is the hypotenuse?

Answer 1

`4sqrt10approx12.6491`

Explanation:

The Pythagorean Theorem states that

`a^2+b^2=c^2`

where `a,b` are legs in a right triangle and `c` is the hypotenuse (the longest side).

So, we know that `a=4` and `b=12` and we want to find `c`.

`4^2+12^2=c^2`

`16+144=c^2`

`c^2=160`

`c=sqrt160`

`c=sqrt(16xx10)`

`c=sqrt16xxsqrt10`

`c=4sqrt10approx12.6491`