Question

A right triangle has a hypotenuse length of 13 units. One leg has a length of 12 units. Which equation can be used to determine the length of the other leg?

Group of answer choices

LaTeX: a^2=12^2+13^2 a 2 = 12 2 + 13 2

LaTeX: a=\sqrt{13^2-12^2} a = 13 2 − 12 2

LaTeX: a^2=12^2-13^2 a 2 = 12 2 − 13 2

LaTeX: a=\sqrt{12^2+13^2} a = 12 2 + 13 2

Answer 1

We know that a²+b²=c²

So if you follow the pythagorean theorem, we substitute the hypotenuse for c² and the leg (12) for either a² or b² because a and b are both legs, so it doesn't matter.

now we have a²+12²=13²

But I usually take the shortcut..and instead of a²+12²=13²

I subtract 12² from 13² (it's the same thing)

After you subtract 13²-12²=a²...you find the square root of 13²-12²

so the answer is LaTeX: a=\sqrt{13^2-12^2}

a= square root of 13²-12²

Answer 2

The length of the other leg is 12