One leg of a right triangle is 7 m and the hypotenuse 7√2m. Find the length of the other leg. The length of the other leg is ___ m.

Question

One leg of a right triangle is 7 m and the hypotenuse 7√2m. Find the length of the other leg.

The length of the other leg is ___ m.

Answer 1

Since one leg of the right triangle is 7 m and the hypotenuse 7√2m, it has to be a 45-45-90 triangle, therefore, the length of the other leg is 7 m.

Answer 2

To solve this problem, use the Pythagorean Theorem:

a² + b² = c²

c will always be the hypotenuse and a and b will be the legs.

I will say:

a = 7 meters b = x c = 7√2 meters

So when we plug it in:

(7)² + x² = (7√2)²

49 + x² = 49 x (√2)²

49 + x² = 49 x 2

Solve for x:

49 + x² = 98

-49 -49

√x² = √49

x = 7