Question

A right triangle has leg lengths of 3.4 cm and 6.7 cm. Which answer below shows the length of the triangle’s hypotenuse rounded to the nearest tenth?

A. 8.5 cm
B. 7.5 cm
C. 5.5 cm
D. none of the above

Answer 1

D

Explanation:

The hypotenuse squared is equal to the sum of the legs squared in a right triangle.

∴ c² = a² + b² (Pythagorean’s Theorem)

c² = 3.4² + 6.7² (substitute the given values for a & b)

c² = 11.56 + 44.89 (square both right hand terms)

c² = 56.45 (add the right hand side values)

c = √56.45 (square root of both sides)

c ≈ 7.5 to the nearest tenth QED