Question

the length.of a hypotenuse of a right triangle is 32 inches and the length of one of the lrgs is 18 inches. what is the length, to the nearest tenth of an inch, of the other leg of the triangle?

Answer 1

Let: hypotenuse = a , known leg = b , unknown leg = c
According to Pythagoras' Theorem:  $a^{2} = b^{2} + c^{2}$
            $c^{2} = a^{2} - b^{2}$
            $c^{2} = (32 inches)^{2} - (18 inches)^{2}$
                        c = $\sqrt{(32 inches)^{2} - (18 inches)^{2}}$
                        c =  3.74 inches
                        
∴ the length of the hypotenuse to 1d.p. ≈ 3.74 inches