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The hypotenuse of a right triangle is 5 feet. One leg of the triangle is 3 feet. What is the length of the other leg (rounded to the nearest hundredth)?

User AgRizzo
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1 Answer

3 votes

Answer: 4

Explanation:

To solve this problem we can use the Pythagorean Theorem to find the length of the other LEG of a right triangle

Pythagorean Theorem can be written as A^2+B^2=C^2

Now we plug in the values. C represents the hypotenuse while A and B represent the legs. We only are given one leg and the hypotenuse so we will be solving for B. (Or A if you swap the legs around)

3^2+b^2=5^2

9+b^2=25

Subtract 9 from both sides:

16=b^2

Now we take the square root of both sides

b=4

The length of the other leg of the triangle is 4 feet.


This is a basic 3-4-5 Triangle. Anytime the hypotenuse of a triangle is 5 and the leg is 3 the other leg will always be 4.

User Mattarau
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