7. The two shortest sides of a pennant shaped like a right triangle measure 10 inches and 24 inches. Hank wants to put colored tape around the edge of the pennant. How many inches of tape does he need?

To find out how much tape Hank needs, you first need to calculate the lengths of all three sides of the right triangle. The two shorter sides are 10 inches and 24 inches, and using the Pythagorean theorem (a² + b² = c²), we calculate the hypotenuse: c = √(10² + 24²) = √(100 + 576) = √676 = 26 inches. Now, add the lengths of all three sides: 10 + 24 + 26 = 60 inches. So, Hank needs 60 inches of tape to wrap around his pennant! When wrapping up a project like Hank's, it's always smart to account for a little extra material just in case—a miscalculation or slight error in measuring can lead to running short! Keeping a roll of tape handy to have a little leeway can save a trip to the store.