Final answer:
The length of the hypotenuse of a right triangle with legs 18 cm and 26 cm is found using the Pythagorean theorem and is calculated to be 31.6 cm. Therefore, the length of the hypotenuse is 31.6 cm, which corresponds to option (b).
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the length of the hypotenuse of a right triangle with legs measuring 18 cm and 26 cm, we use the Pythagorean theorem, which states that in a right triangle the square of the length of the hypotenuse (c) is equal to the sum of the squares of the lengths of the other two legs (a and b). This can be expressed as a² + b² = c². By substituting the given leg measurements into the theorem, we calculate the hypotenuse:
c = √(18 cm)² + (26 cm)²
c = √(324 cm² + 676 cm²)
c = √1000 cm²
c = 31.6 cm
Therefore, the length of the hypotenuse is 31.6 cm, which corresponds to option (b).