Question

The length of the hypotenuse in a right triangle is 20 centimeters. If the length of one leg is 16 centimeters, what is the length of the other leg?

Answer 1

first of all dude there is no leg in in a triangle. but the words you have to use is side.

hypotenuse ^2 = base^2 + height^2

20 = 16 + height^2

height ^2 = 20 - 16

height ^2 = 4

height = √4

height = 2 centimetre

Answer 2

let the triangle be ABC right angle at B

AC is hypotenuse = 20cm AB = 16cm

by Pythagoras theorem

AC^2 = AB^2 + BC^2

${20}^{2} = {16}^{2} + {x}^{2} \\ 400 = 256 + {x}^{2} \\ {x}^{2} = 400 - 256 \\ {x}^{2} = 144 \\ x = \sqrt{144} \\ x = 12$

therefore BC = 12cm