Answer:
The length of the longest leg is 20 cm.
Step-by-step explanation:
Use the Pythagorean theorem to work this out; a² + b² = c².
If the two shortest legs (sides) are 12 cm and 16 cm, then the longest leg will be substituted by c.
Substitute 12 into a and 16 into b. The equation then becomes:
12² + 16² = c². Simplify this equation.
144 + 256 = 400.
Now, find the square root of 400 (c) because this answer is c in squared form.
[tex]\sqrt{400}[/tex] = 20.
Hence, the length of the longest leg is 20 cm.
