Question

A right triangle has a hypotenuse of length 20 cm and another side of length 16 cm. what is the length of the third side of the triangle?

Answer 1

Apply the Pythagorean Theorem:

20^2 = 16^2 + x^2  =>  400 = 256 + x^2  =>  144 = x^2, or x = 12 cm (answer)