Question

If the hypotenuse of a right triangle is 125 units long and the short leg adjacent to the right angle is 32 units long, then determine the length of the of the long leg of the triangle.

Answer 1

`120.83\ units`

Explanation:

we know that

In a right triangle applying the Pythagoras theorem

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

where

c is the hypotenuse of the right triangle ( the greater side)

a,b are the legs of the right triangle

In this problem we have

`c=125\ units`

`a=32\ units`

substitute and solve for b

`125^(2)=32^(2)+b^(2)`

`b^(2)=125^(2)-32^(2)`

`b^(2)=14,601`

`b=120.83\ units`