Multiple choice

The sum of the lengths of the legs of a right triangle is 28 cm whereas their difference is 4 cm. What is the length of the hypotenuse of the triangle?

  1. 28 cm

  2. 25 cm

  3. 23 cm

  4. 20 cm
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Let legs be a and b. a + b = 28 and a - b = 4. Adding gives 2a = 32, so a = 16. Then b = 12. Hypotenuse = sqrt(16^2 + 12^2) = sqrt(256 + 144) = sqrt(400) = 20.

AI explanation

Let the legs be x and y, so we have the equations x plus y equals 28 and x minus y equals 4. Adding these two equations gives 2x equals 32, meaning x is 16 cm; subtracting the equations gives 2y equals 24, meaning y is 12 cm. Using the Pythagorean theorem, the hypotenuse squared equals 16 squared plus 12 squared, which is 256 plus 144, or 400. The square root of 400 is 20 cm.

Keep practicing — related questions