In a 30-60-90 triangle, what is the length of the long leg and hypotenuse if the short leg is 5 in long?

2 Answers
Nov 15, 2015

L = 10, h = 5 sqrt 3

Explanation:

You have half an equilateral triangle of sides (L ; L/2 ; h = L sqrt 3/2)

L is the hypotenuse, L/2 = 5 is the short one, h is the long one.

Nov 15, 2015

Length of long leg=3.464 in, Length of hypotenuse=10 in

Explanation:

30^o-60^o-90^o is a special kind of right-triangle in which sides exist in ratio SL:LL:H = 1:sqrt(3):2

where
SL=Short Leg,
LL=Long Leg,
H=Hypotenuse

The side-lengths can also be calculated with these relations
SL=1/2H or SL=1/sqrt3LL
LL=sqrt3/2H or LL=SLsqrt3

Therefore, if SL=5 in

LL=2sqrt3=3.464 in
and
H=SLxx2=5xx2=10 in