if the side opposite a 60-degree angle in a 30-60-90 right triangle is 7√3 cm long, how long is the hypotenuse

1 answer

In a 30-60-90 triangle, the lengths of the sides are in a specific ratio:

  • The side opposite the 30-degree angle is the shortest and is denoted as \(x\).
  • The side opposite the 60-degree angle is \(x\sqrt{3}\).
  • The hypotenuse is \(2x\).

In your case, the side opposite the 60-degree angle is given to be \(7\sqrt{3}\) cm. According to the ratio:

\[ x\sqrt{3} = 7\sqrt{3} \]

To find \(x\), we can divide both sides by \(\sqrt{3}\):

\[ x = 7 \]

Now, we can find the hypotenuse using the relationship \(2x\):

\[ \text{Hypotenuse} = 2x = 2(7) = 14 \text{ cm} \]

Thus, the hypotenuse is 14 cm long.