Question

If a triangle is 12 inches high and has a 20 inch long hypotenuse then how wide is it?

Answer 1

Answer:

The triangle should be 16 inches wide.

Step-by-step explanation:

$\text {Use the Pythagorean Theorem to solve for the leg.}\\a^2 + b^2 =c^2$

What we know:

• One of the legs measures 12 inches.

• The hypotenuse is 20 inches.

We need to solve for b. Solving for a while b is 12 would also be acceptable.

$12^2 + b^2 = 20^2 \text { OR } a^2 +12^2=20^2$

We will use the first equation.

$12^2 + b^2 = 20^2\\12 * 12 = 144\\20 * 20 = 400\\\\\boxed {144 + b^2 = 400}$

$\text {Subtraction property of equality: }\\144-144+ b^2 = 400-144\\\boxed {b^2 = 256}\\\\\text {Take the square root of 256: }\\\sqrt{256}=\sqrt{b^2} \boxed {16 = b}$

The triangle should be 16 inches wide.