In a right triangle with legs 9 cm and 12 cm, what is the length of the hypotenuse?

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Multiple Choice

In a right triangle with legs 9 cm and 12 cm, what is the length of the hypotenuse?

In a right triangle, the square of the hypotenuse equals the sum of the squares of the legs. With legs 9 cm and 12 cm, the hypotenuse c satisfies c^2 = 9^2 + 12^2 = 81 + 144 = 225, so c = sqrt(225) = 15 cm. The hypotenuse must be larger than either leg, so it can’t be 9 or 12. A value like 18 would require a larger sum of squares than provided, which doesn’t match the given legs. Therefore, 15 cm is the correct length.

In a right triangle, the square of the hypotenuse equals the sum of the squares of the legs. With legs 9 cm and 12 cm, the hypotenuse c satisfies c^2 = 9^2 + 12^2 = 81 + 144 = 225, so c = sqrt(225) = 15 cm. The hypotenuse must be larger than either leg, so it can’t be 9 or 12. A value like 18 would require a larger sum of squares than provided, which doesn’t match the given legs. Therefore, 15 cm is the correct length.

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