Final answer:
To find the other leg of a right triangle, we use the Pythagorean theorem. Given one leg (3 cm) and the hypotenuse (5 cm), we find the other leg to be 4 cm after solving the equation derived from the theorem.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the length of the other leg of a right triangle when you know one leg and the hypotenuse, you can use the Pythagorean theorem. The theorem states that in a right triangle, the square of the length of the hypotenuse (c) is equal to the sum of the squares of the lengths of the other two sides (a and b).
This can be expressed as a² + b² = c², which can be solved for the unknown leg. If one leg (a) measures 3 cm and the hypotenuse (c) measures 5 cm, we can solve for the missing leg (b) using:
3² + b² = 5²
9 + b² = 25
b² = 25 - 9
b² = 16
b = √16
b = 4
Therefore, the measure of the other leg of the right triangle is 4 cm.