Question

In a right- angled triangle, the shortest sides are 5 and 12. How do you find the perimeter of the triangle?

Answer 1

The perimeter of the triangle is 30 units.

Explanation:

You have to use the "Pythagorean theorem " in order to find the greatest side / Hypotenuse of the triangle .

Pythagorean theorem states that - " The sum of the squares of the smaller sides of a right angled triangle is equal to the square of the greatest side / hypotenuse of right angled triangle ".

Let the third side be 'x'

So ,

`x^2 = 5^2 + 12^2`

`x^2 = 25 + 144`

`x^2 = 169`

`x = sqrt(169)`

`x = 13`

The greatest side / hypotenuse of the triangle = 13

The perimeter of a triangle = Sum of all sides

`= 5 + 12 +13`

`= 30`