How would you work out the length of an hypotenuse, if the length of the opposite side is 3 cm and the length of the opposite side is 4 cm?

You would use Pythagoras theorem, which states, a^2 + b^2 = c^2. Where a is the opposite side to the angle, b is the side adjacent to the angle and c is the hypotenuse.

So if a = 3 cm, and b = 4 cm, c^2 would equal: 3^2 + 4 ^2 = 9 + 16 = 25. If c^2 = 25, then c = 5. Therefore the length of the hypotenuse is 5cm.

Answered by Othniel A. Maths tutor

3453 Views

See similar Maths GCSE tutors

Related Maths GCSE answers

All answers ▸

what is the Pythagoras theorem?


Find the inverse function of f(x) = 5 / (x - 4)


The equation of Line 1 is y=2x-2 and the equation of Line 2 is 2y-4x+5=0. Prove that these 2 lines are parallel to each other.


How would you find the mean for the numbers 100, 230, 450, 120 and 250?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact usWhatsapp logoMessage us on Whatsapptelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo
Cookie Preferences