If AC = 20 centimeters, and BC = 16 centimeters, which does AB equal?

Is this a triangle? What kind of triangle?

right angle triangle

AB = 12

To determine the length of AB, we can use the concept of Pythagorean theorem. According to the theorem, in a right triangle, the square of the length of the hypotenuse (the side opposite the right angle) is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides. In this case, AB is the hypotenuse, and AC and BC are the other two sides.

By applying the Pythagorean theorem, we can set up the equation as follows:

AB^2 = AC^2 + BC^2

Plugging in the given values:

AB^2 = (20 cm)^2 + (16 cm)^2

Calculating:

AB^2 = 400 cm^2 + 256 cm^2
AB^2 = 656 cm^2

To find the length of AB, we need to find the square root of both sides of the equation:

√AB^2 = √656 cm^2
AB ≈ √656 cm
AB ≈ 25.6 cm

Therefore, AB is approximately 25.6 centimeters.