Final answer:
To calculate the hypotenuse of a 45-45-90 triangle with one leg measuring 5 inches, multiply the leg length by √2 to get approximately 7.07 inches for the hypotenuse.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the length of the hypotenuse in a 45-45-90 triangle when one leg measures 5 inches, we can use the Pythagorean theorem, which relates the lengths of the legs of a right triangle to its hypotenuse. In a 45-45-90 triangle, the legs are equal in length, and the length of the hypotenuse is √2 times the length of a leg. So, if one leg is 5 inches, the hypotenuse will be:
hypotenuse = leg × √2 = 5 × √2 ≈ 5 × 1.414 = 7.07 inches.
Therefore, the length of the hypotenuse is approximately 7.07 inches.