Question

One leg of a right triangle is 3 cm and the hypotenuse is 5 cm. Joni found the length of the other leg by evaluating √32 + 52. What error did she make? How would you help her correct her error so she is less likely to make the same error in the future?

Answer 1

Answer: See explanation

Explanation:

We should note that the hypothenuse is the longest side in a triangle. Therefore, the length of the other side will be represented by x. This is then solved below:

x² + 3² = 5²

x² + 9 = 25

x² = 25 - 9

x² = 16

x = ✓16

x = 4cm

The other leg is 4cm

Joni shouldn't have added the hypothenuse to the other leg but rather subtracted the square of the other leg from the square of the hypothenuse and then find the square root.