Question

A right triangle has legs with lengths 20 cm and 21 cm.

What is the length of the hypotenuse?

_cm

Answer 1

Ue use the theorem:

The equation relating the lengths of the sides a, b and c, often called the "Pythagorean equation":
`a^(2) + b^(2) = c^(2) ;`

where c represents the length of the hypotenuse (the side opposite the right angle) and a and b the lengths of the triangle's other two sides.

`c^(2) = 20^(2) + 21^(2)`;

`c^(2) = 841 ; c = √(841) ; c = 29 cm.`

Answer 2

The formula for finding the sides of a triangle are:

a^2 + b^2 = c^2

20^2 + 21^2 = c^2

400 + 441 = 841

Taking the square root of 841,

29. So the length of the hypotenuse is 29 cm.