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A right triangle has hypotenuse with length 8 inches. If one leg is 5 inches long, how long is the other leg?

User Torrie
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1 Answer

1 vote

Using Pythagoras theorem,


\sf a^2 + b^2 = c^2

Where
\sf a and
\sf b are the two legs of the triangle, and
\sf c is the Hypotenuse.

Putting the given values:


\sf 5^2 + b^2 = 8^2 \\ \longrightarrow \sf b^2 = 64 - 25 \\ \longrightarrow \sf b^2 = 39 \\ \longrightarrow \sf b = √(39)\:\:inches

Hence, the length of the other leg is,


\leadsto \underline{\boxed{\mathfrak{\pink{√(39)\:\:inches}}}}

User Valachio
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8.4k points