If one leg of a triangle is 4 feet and the other leg is 12 feet, what is the hypotenuse?

1 Answer
Jan 2, 2016

4sqrt10approx12.649141012.6491

Explanation:

The Pythagorean Theorem states that

a^2+b^2=c^2a2+b2=c2

where a,ba,b are legs in a right triangle and cc is the hypotenuse (the longest side).

So, we know that a=4a=4 and b=12b=12 and we want to find cc.

4^2+12^2=c^242+122=c2

16+144=c^216+144=c2

c^2=160c2=160

c=sqrt160c=160

c=sqrt(16xx10)c=16×10

c=sqrt16xxsqrt10c=16×10

c=4sqrt10approx12.6491c=41012.6491