document.write( "Question 252631: the hypotenuse of a right triangle is 20 inches. one of the legs has a meadure of 16 inches. what is the measure of the other leg?\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "the answer i got was not an option
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Algebra.Com's Answer #184648 by jim_thompson5910(35256)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "We basically have this triangle set up:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "To find the unknown length, we need to use the Pythagorean Theorem.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Remember, the Pythagorean Theorem is \"a%5E2%2Bb%5E2=c%5E2\" where \"a\" and \"b\" are the legs of a triangle and \"c\" is the hypotenuse.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Since the legs are \"x\" and \"16\" this means that \"a=x\" and \"b=16\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Also, since the hypotenuse is \"20\", this means that \"c=20\".\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"a%5E2%2Bb%5E2=c%5E2\" Start with the Pythagorean theorem.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x%5E2%2B16%5E2=20%5E2\" Plug in \"a=x\", \"b=16\", \"c=20\" \r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x%5E2%2B256=20%5E2\" Square \"16\" to get \"256\".\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x%5E2%2B256=400\" Square \"20\" to get \"400\".\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x%5E2=400-256\" Subtract \"256\" from both sides.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x%5E2=144\" Combine like terms.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x=sqrt%28144%29\" Take the square root of both sides. Note: only the positive square root is considered (since a negative length doesn't make sense).\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x=12\" Simplify the square root.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Answer:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So the solution is \"x=12\" which means that the measure of the remaining leg is 12 inches.
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