Question

If the length of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is 39 millimeters and the length of one leg is 15 millimeters what is the length of the other leg (b)

Answer 1

Answer:

36 millimeters

Step-by-step explanation:

From Pythagoras theorem, the square of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the square of the two other legs

In mathematical terms;

a^2 = b^2 + c^2

Let a represent the hypotenuse = 39 mm and the length of one leg, say c, is 15 mm

Slotting in the values of a and b

39^2 = b^2 + 15^2

1521 = b^2 + 225

collect like terms

1521 - 225 = b^2

1296 = b^2

Take the square root of both sides

36 = b

Therefore b = 36 mm