Answer:
20 meters
Step-by-step explanation:
Write out and then apply the Pythagorean Theorem, a^2 + b^2 = c^2:
16^2 + 12^2 = hypotenuse^2:
256 + 144 = 400 = hypotenuse^2
The length of the third side is the length of the hypotenuse, which in turn is 20 meters.
