Question

if a triangle has sides of length 8 and 15 how long is the hypotenuse?

Answer 1

To find the length of the hypotenuse in a right triangle with sides of lengths 8 and 15, you can use the Pythagorean theorem, which states:

\[
c^2 = a^2 + b^2
\]

where \(c\) is the length of the hypotenuse, and \(a\) and \(b\) are the lengths of the other two sides.

Plugging in the values:

\[
c^2 = 8^2 + 15^2
\]
\[
c^2 = 64 + 225
\]
\[
c^2 = 289
\]

Now, take the square root of both sides to find \(c\):

\[
c = \sqrt{289} = 17
\]

Therefore, the length of the hypotenuse is **17**.