SOLUTION: In right triangle ABC, the measure of angle A is 45°. If the hypotenuse of the triangle has length 5, what is the length of segment BC?

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Question 515129: In right triangle ABC, the measure of angle A is 45°. If the hypotenuse of the triangle has length 5, what is the length of segment BC?


Answer by Gogonati(855) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The triangle ABC is an isosceles right triangle this means that the legs are equal
Using the Pythagorean theorem we write:
x%5E2%2Bx%5E2=5%5E2 where x is the length of each leg. Solving the equation we get:
2x%5E2=25
x%5E2=25%2F2
x=sqrt%2825%2F2%29
x=5%2Fsqrt%282%29 Rationalizing the denominator x=5%2Asqrt%282%29%2F2
Answer: The length of segment BC is 5%2Asqrt%282%29%2F2