Question

2. The hypotenuse of a right triangle

has length 50 cm. One leg has

length 20 cm. To the nearest

tenth, what is the length of the

other leg?

A 30.0 cm

B 45.8 cm

© 49.8 cm

0 539 cm

Answer 1

9514 1404 393

Answer:

B. 45.8 cm

Explanation:

The Pythagorean theorem is helpful. For legs a, b, and hypotenuse c, it tells you ...

c² = a² +b²

50² = 20² +b²

b² = 2500 -400 = 2100

b = √2100 ≈ 45.8

The length of the other leg is about 45.8 cm.