Question 294353
Use the Pythagorean theorem for right triangles: {{{c^2 = a^2+b^2}}} where c is the length of the hypotenuse, and b & a are the lenghs of the two legs.
{{{c^2 = 12^2+16^2}}}
{{{c^2 = 144+256}}}
{{{c^2 = 400}}} Take the square root of both sides (Discard the negative solution).
{{{c = 20}}}
The length of the hypotenuse is 20 cm.