Question

Which of the following is the measure of side a? 23.3 144 8 16

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

it is a right-angled triangle, so the side lengths need to fulfill the Pythagoras rule :

c² = a² + b²

where c is the Hypotenuse, the baseline opposite of the 90 degree angle. and a and b (often called legs) are the sides "enclosing" the 90 degree angle.

so, we have

20² = a² + 12²

400 = a² + 144

a² = 256

a = 16

FYI - we could have picked the right answer also by eliminating the wrong given answer options.

as this is a right-angled triangle :

a cannot be longer than the baseline (20).

that eliminates already the first 2 options.

and then look at the picture : a cannot be shorter than b (the other side line (12)).

that eliminates the third option.