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The shorter leg of a 30°-60°-90° triangle measures 3 inches. What is the length of the longer leg?

User Unnati
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1 Answer

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For a 30°-60°-90° triangle, the sides will have a ratio of 1:sqrt(3):2. Therefore if the shortest side (across the 30° angle) has a length ratio of 1, then the longer leg has a length ratio of sqrt(3). Therefore we have the proportion:
3 inches/1 = x/sqrt(3)
x = 3sqrt(3) inches

Note that the side of length ratio 2 is the hypotenuse, not the longer leg.
User Dth
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