Question

One leg of a right triangle is 12, and the hypotenuse is 20.

Answer 1

We can ise Pythagorean triplet which is ( 12 , 16 , 20 )

Therefore the answer is 16.

Step-by-step explanation:

Or we can use Pythagoras theorem , stated as ;

( hyp )^2 = ( adj )^2 + ( opp )^2

hyp ( hypotenuse ) = 20

We can assume the adj ( adjacent ) = 12

By substituting the values ,

20^2 = 12^2 + ( adj )^2

400 = 144 + ( adj )^2

400 - 144 = ( adj )^2

256 = ( adj )^2

Take the square root of both sides

✓256 = adj

16 = adj

Therefore the length of the other leg which is the adjacent( adj ) side is 16.