Question

Find the perimeter?
There's a right triangle, with three sides, only two of the sides are given. I have to find X.
The given sides are 12 and 16
I know the formula for finding perimeter but my answer doesn't match up with the multiple choice options.
Help?

Answer 1

It's hard to answer that because we are not told if either of those sides is a hypotenuse.
If it is both sides that = 12 & 16 then the
hypotenuse² = 144 + 256
hypotenuse² = 400
hypotenuse = 20

Answer 2

Okay, 20 was one of the options but I'll draw the triangle for you just in case. Can u explain to me how you found that answer? I get really confused

Answer 3

Sure, I used the Pythagorean Theorem which states that the sum of the squares of the 2 sides of a right triangle equals the square of the hypotenuse.
So 12² = 144 and 16² = 256 and so
the hypotenuse² = 144 + 256 = 400
hypotenuse = square root of 400 which equals 20.

Answer 4

Oh ok! See I was doing it completely differently.
Thank you! I get what I was doing wrong, thanks so much!

Answer 5

Glad to help you out.