Question

1. Find the length of the unknown leg.

Answer 1

Length of the unknown leg, b is 21 and a is 10

Step-by-step explanation:

• Step 1: Given in the first figure, the hypotenuse = 29 and one leg = 20. Find b using the Pythagoras theorem.

Hypotenuse² = Sum of squares of the other two sides

29² = 20² + b²

⇒ b² = 29² - 20² = 841 - 400 = 441

∴ b = 21

• Step 2: In the second figure, Hypotenuse = 26 and one leg = 24.

Find a using the Pythagoras theorem.

Hypotenuse² = Sum of squares of the other two sides

26² = 24² + a²

⇒ a² = 26² - 24² = 676 - 576 = 100

∴ a = 10