Answer:
4.5 cm
Step-by-step explanation:
a^2+b^2=c^2
A represents the leg we already know, which has a length of 4 cm. C represents the hypotenuse with a length of 6 cm:
4^2+b^2=6^2, simplified: 16+b^2=36
subtract 16 from both sides:
b^2=20
now find the square root of both sides and that is the length of the other leg.
sqrt20= 4.4721, which can be rounded to 4.5
Answer:
4.5 cm
Step-by-step explanation:
Since this is a right triangle, we can use the Pythagorean Theorem.
[tex]a^2+b^2=c^2[/tex]
where a and b are the legs and c is the hypotenuse.
One leg is unknown and the other is 4 cm. The hypotenuse is 6 cm.
[tex]a=a\\b=4\\c=6[/tex]
Substitute the values into the theorem.
[tex]a^2+4^2=6^2[/tex]
Evaluate the exponents first.
4^2= 4*4= 16
[tex]a^2+16=6^2[/tex]
6^2=6*6=36
[tex]a^2+16=36[/tex]
We want to find a, therefore we must get a by itself.
16 is being added on to a^2. The inverse of addition is subtraction. Subtract 16 from both sides of the equation.
[tex]a^2+16-16=36-16\\\\a^2=36-16\\\\a^2=20[/tex]
a is being squared. The inverse of a square is a square root. Take the square root of both sides.
[tex]\sqrt{a^2}=\sqrt{20} \\\\a=\sqrt{20} \\\\a=4.47213595[/tex]
Round to the nearest tenth. The 7 in the hundredth place tells us to round the 4 in the tenth place to a 5.
[tex]a=4.5[/tex]
Add appropriate units. In this case, centimeters.
a= 4.5 cm
The length of the other leg is about 4.5 centimeters.
