Question

The length of one leg of a right triangle is 5 centimeters shorter than the hypotenuse. The hypotenuse is 15 centimeters. What is the length of the unknown leg of the right triangle?

Answer 1

5√5 cm

Explanation:

call the hypotenuse A. the other two sides are B and C.

in a right-angled triangle, A² = B² + C². also, let's just say that B is the side 5cm shorter than hypotenuse.

so we have 15² = (15 - 5)² + C²

225 = (10)² + C²

C² = 225 - 10² = 225 - 100

= 125.

C = √125 = √(25 X 5) = √25 X √5 = 5 X √5 = 5√5