Question

One of the legs of a right triangle measures 3 cm and the other leg measures 18 cm . Find the measure of the hypotenuse. If necessary, round to

the nearest tenth.

Answer Attempt 1 out of 3

To find the hypotenuse of a right triangle when the lengths of both legs are known, you can apply the Pythagorean theorem, which states , where is the hypotenuse. For this triangle, with one leg measuring 3 cm and the other measuring 18 cm, you calculate it as follows:

To find , you take the square root:

Calculating gives cm when rounded to the nearest tenth.

Using the Pythagorean theorem is not just a classroom trick—it’s the foundation for a lot of real-world applications! Engineers, architects, and even video game developers use this principle when designing safe structures or creating realistic environments. A solid grasp of these principles can give you a leg up in both academics and your future career!

Additionally, when working with the Pythagorean theorem, it’s essential to keep your calculations organized and check your work to avoid common mistakes like squaring the legs incorrectly or miscalculating the square root. Also, remember to round only at the final step to maintain accuracy throughout the process!