In a 45°- 45°- 90° right triangle, the hypotenuse is 4 cm. How long are the legs?

Question

mertsj · Answer

What is the relationship between the legs and the hypotenuse of a 45-45-90 triangle?

anonymous · Answer

A 45°- 45°- 90° right triangle is one-half of a square, with each leg equal to the side of the square.  In a 45°- 45°- 90° right triangle, the hypotenuse is equal to times the length of either leg.

mertsj · Answer

So if you multiply the leg by sqrt2 to get the hypotenuse, wouldn't it make sense to divide the hypotenuse by sqrt2 to get the leg?

anonymous · Answer

i did that but it didnt match none of the multiple choices

mertsj · Answer

Post what you did and I will trouble shoot it.

anonymous · Answer

i put in the calculater 4/sqrt2 and got 1.41

anonymous · Answer

im lost

mertsj · Answer

Leave it in radical form and simplify it.

mertsj · Answer

Rationalize the denominator by multiplying numerator and denominator by sqrt2

anonymous · Answer

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