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how do you find the hypotenuse of a triangle?

2006-10-10 14:05:07 · 8 answers · asked by darclotus 1 in Education & Reference Homework Help

8 answers

Use Pythagorean's Theorem:
c = sqrt(a^2 + b^2)

2006-10-10 14:07:54 · answer #1 · answered by bloop87 4 · 0 0

If you're asking how do you tell which side is the hypotenuse, then you need to know that only right triangles have them. The two sides that form the right angle are the legs, the third side is the hypotenuse. The hypotenuse will always be the longest side of the triangle.

If you're asking how to find it's length, that depends on what information you have. If you know how long the legs are, then the Pythagorean Theorem is the way to go. If the legs are lengths a and b and the hypotenuse is length c, then the Pythagorean Theorem says

a^2 + b^2 = c^2

For instance, if the legs are 3 inches and 4 inches long, then

3^2 + 4^2 = c^2

9 + 16 = c^2

25 = c^2

c = 5 inches

There are other ways to find the hypotenuse if you have other information, but given the question I'm going to assume this is what you need.

2006-10-10 14:10:03 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

only a right triangle has a hypotenuse...if you have a figure drawn it is the side across from the right angle ...it is ALWAYs the longest side

If you have the lenght of the legs use pythagoreans theorem..
a squared + b squared = c squared where a & b are the lenght of the legs and c is the length of the hypothenuse

for example if you triangle had legs with lengths 3 and 4 the hypotenuse can be found with 3^2 +4^2 = c^2...so 9 + 16 = 25 and the square root of 25 is 5 so the length of the hypotenuse is 5

2006-10-10 14:09:42 · answer #3 · answered by dla68 4 · 0 0

Its the longest side of a RIGHT triangle, always opposite the right angle (90 degrees).

If you know the lengths ("a" and "b") of the two legs adjacent the right angle, use may use the Pythagorean Theorem: a^2 + b^2 = c^2

So the length of the hypotenuse is equal to the square root of the sum of the squares of the length of the legs!

Good luck! ;)

2006-10-10 14:15:32 · answer #4 · answered by Mr. Math 2 · 0 0

A triangle does not have a hypotenuse unless it is a right triangle, that is, unless one of its angles is a 90 degree angle. If it has a 90 degree angle, the hypotenuse is the side opposite that 90 degree angle.

2006-10-10 14:10:19 · answer #5 · answered by wild_turkey_willie 5 · 0 0

I'm assuming you know side a and b pf a right triangle and are looking for the hypotenuse c.

in that case c = sqrt(a^2+b^2)

2006-10-10 14:09:14 · answer #6 · answered by jd 3 · 0 0

Most likely you'd use the Pythagorean theorem: a^2 + b^2 = c^2, where a and b are the legs (the sides that form the right angle) and c is the hypotenuse.

Alternately, you may have to use one of the trigonometric ratios: sin = opp/hyp or cos = adj/hyp

2006-10-10 14:09:46 · answer #7 · answered by dmb 5 · 0 0

A(squared)+b(squared)=C(squared) {the hyptenuse}

2006-10-10 14:18:50 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

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