Question

An engineer needs to create a bridge that consists of right triangles for support. Determine whether the triangle shown is a right triangle.

Be sure to include your answer and show/explain the steps you used to solve.​

Answer 1

See below

Explanation:

We can see that the thick line which outlines the main cable, the base and tower form a triangle

The longest length is the main cable which is 15m

If it is indeed a right triangle. the squares of the sums of the two shorter sides must equal the square of the longer side.

Sum of squares of shorter sides(also called legs) = 9² + 12²

= 81 + 144

= 225

Square of the longer side = 15² = 225

Since 15² = 9² + 12²

the triangle shown is indeed a right triangle with hypotenuse = 15m and the legs of the right triangle 9m and 12m