Question

Triangle ABC is a right triangle. The length of one of the legs is 12 centimeters, and the length of the hypotenuse is 20 centimeters. What is the length of the other leg?​

Answer 1

The other leg is 16 cm long.

Step-by-step explanation:

Use the Pythagorean theorem:

`c^2=a^2+b^2`,

where:

`c` is the hypotenuse, and
`a` and
`b` are the other two sides (legs).

Let
`a=12`
`cm`

Rearrange the equation to isolate
`b^2`. Plug in the values for
`a` and
`c`, and solve.

`b^2=c^2-a^2`

`b2=(20 cm)^2-(12 cm)^2`

Simplify.

`b^2=400 cm^2-144cm^2`

`b^2=256 cm^2`

Take the square root of both sides.

`b=√(256cm^2)`

Simplify.

`b=16`
`cm`

Answer 2

Answer: 16 centimeters

Step-by-step explanation:

We will use the Pythagorean theorem to solve. The c variable is the hypotenuse, the a and b variables are the legs.

a² + b² = c²

12² + b² = 20²

144 + b² = 400

b² = 256

b =
`√(256)`

b = 16

The length of the other leg is 16 centimeters.