Question

HELP the length of the one of the legs of a right triangle is 8m and the hypotenuse is 12m. Which of the following choices is the length of the other leg? 5 4 5 None of these choices are correct.

Answer 1

8.944 or 9

Explanation:

Pythagorean Theorem states a^2 + b^2 = c^2. We have our c^2 and our a^2 so we just need to solve for a^2.

12 is the hypotenuse which means its c. 12^2 = 144.

8 is a leg which means its either a or b but we'll just call it a. 8^2 = 64

144 = 64 + b^2

144 - 64 = b^2

144 - 64 = 80

80 = b^2

`√(80\\)` = b

`√(80\\)` = 8.94427191 or 9