Answer:
The triangle should be 16 inches wide.
Step-by-step explanation:
[tex]\text {Use the Pythagorean Theorem to solve for the leg.}\\a^2 + b^2 =c^2[/tex]
What we know:
- One of the legs measures 12 inches.
- The hypotenuse is 20 inches.
We need to solve for b. Solving for a while b is 12 would also be acceptable.
[tex]12^2 + b^2 = 20^2 \text { OR } a^2 +12^2=20^2[/tex]
We will use the first equation.
[tex]12^2 + b^2 = 20^2\\12 * 12 = 144\\20 * 20 = 400\\\\\boxed {144 + b^2 = 400}[/tex]
[tex]\text {Subtraction property of equality: }\\144-144+ b^2 = 400-144\\\boxed {b^2 = 256}\\\\\text {Take the square root of 256: }\\\sqrt{256}=\sqrt{b^2} \boxed {16 = b}[/tex]
The triangle should be 16 inches wide.
