6.6k views
4 votes
Whick set of the following numbers could be the side lengths of a right triangle?

A. 3,4,and 7
B. 9,40, and 42
C. 8,15, and 16
D. 20,21, and 29

User Emboss
by
8.3k points

1 Answer

4 votes
If you are familiar with certain Pythagorean triples and other triangle relationships, you can eliminate the first three possibilities easily.
A. You know that 3, 4, 5 is a right triangle, so 3, 4, 7 cannot be
B. You know that 9, 40, 41 is a right triangle, so 9, 40, 42 cannot be
C. You know that 8, 8√3, 16 is a right triangle, so 8, 15, 16 cannot be
D. 20² +21² = 400 +441 = 841 = 29²

The appropriate choice is ...
D. 20, 21, and 29
User Ralph Melhem
by
8.5k points