Answer:
The other leg is 16 cm long.
Explanation:
Use the Pythagorean theorem:
[tex]c^2=a^2+b^2[/tex],
where:
[tex]c[/tex] is the hypotenuse, and [tex]a[/tex] and [tex]b[/tex] are the other two sides (legs).
Let [tex]a=12[/tex] [tex]cm[/tex]
Rearrange the equation to isolate [tex]b^2[/tex]. Plug in the values for [tex]a[/tex] and [tex]c[/tex], and solve.
[tex]b^2=c^2-a^2[/tex]
[tex]b2=(20 cm)^2-(12 cm)^2[/tex]
Simplify.
[tex]b^2=400 cm^2-144cm^2[/tex]
[tex]b^2=256 cm^2[/tex]
Take the square root of both sides.
[tex]b=\sqrt{256cm^2}[/tex]
Simplify.
[tex]b=16[/tex] [tex]cm[/tex]
