Answer: The diagonal and the height of the right triangle form the legs of the triangle, and the unknown length is the hypotenuse. To find the length of the hypotenuse, we can use the Pythagorean theorem. The theorem states that in a right triangle, the square of the length of the hypotenuse (the side opposite the right angle) is equal to the sum of the squares of the lengths of the other two sides (the legs).
So, if the legs of the right triangle measure 12 inches and 15 inches, the hypotenuse c can be calculated as follows:
c² = a² + b²
c² = 12² + 15²
c² = 144 + 225
c² = 369
Therefore, the length of the hypotenuse c is the square root of 369.
c = √369
c = 19.1 inches
Therefore, the top of the spider web is 19.1 inches long.
Explanation: