In a right triangle with legs 5 and 12, what is the hypotenuse?

In a right triangle with legs 5 and 12, what is the hypotenuse?

• A. 10
• B. 12
• C. 14
• D. 13

Answer: (D)

Pythagorean theorem applies: in a right triangle, the hypotenuse squared equals the sum of the squares of the other two sides. So 5^2 + 12^2 = 25 + 144 = 169, and the hypotenuse is sqrt(169) = 13. Therefore, the hypotenuse measures 13. The other numbers don’t fit the relationship: 10 would require different leg lengths, 12 is a leg here, and 14 would give 14^2 = 196, which doesn’t match 25 + 144.

Pythagorean theorem applies: in a right triangle, the hypotenuse squared equals the sum of the squares of the other two sides. So 5^2 + 12^2 = 25 + 144 = 169, and the hypotenuse is sqrt(169) = 13. Therefore, the hypotenuse measures 13. The other numbers don’t fit the relationship: 10 would require different leg lengths, 12 is a leg here, and 14 would give 14^2 = 196, which doesn’t match 25 + 144.