Question

8 Level Problems (Challenging, Unfamiliar)

4. In a right triangle, the hypotenuse is 3 times the length of the shorter leg. The longer leg is 5cm. Find
the length of the hypotenuse.

Answer 1

• Answer:

h = 15√3/4

= 6.4875

≈ 6.5 cm

• Explanation:

h = 3x

c₁ = 5 cm

c₂ = x

• Pythagoras

h² = c₁² + c₂²

(3x)² = 5² + x²

9x² = 25 + x²

8x² = 25

x² = 25/8

x = √25/8

x = 5/2√2

x = 5√2/4

h = 3x

= 3×5√2/4

= 15√2/4 cm