Question

In a 45°- 45°- 90° right triangle, the length of the hypotenuse is 12. How long are the legs?

Answer 1

I found `8.5`

Explanation:

You can use Pythagoras Theorem where `c=12` is the hypotenuse and the other two legs have the same length `a` (it is an isosceles triangle=two equal sides); so:
`c^2=a^2+a^2`
`12^2=2a^2`
`144=2a^2`
`a^2=72`
`a=+-sqrt(72)=+-8.5`
You choose the positive one.