GED Math Practice Test

According to the Pythagorean theorem, if one side of a right triangle is 3 and the other side is 4, what is the length of the hypotenuse?

1. 5

2. 6

3. 7

4. 8

The correct answer is: 5

The correct answer, 5, is derived from applying the Pythagorean theorem. This theorem states that in a right triangle, the square of the length of the hypotenuse (the side opposite the right angle) is equal to the sum of the squares of the lengths of the other two sides. In this case, the lengths of the two sides you've given are 3 and 4. To find the length of the hypotenuse, you calculate: 1. Square the lengths of the two sides: - \(3^2 = 9\) - \(4^2 = 16\) 2. Add these two results together: - \(9 + 16 = 25\) 3. Find the square root of this sum to determine the hypotenuse: - \(\sqrt{25} = 5\) Thus, the hypotenuse of the triangle measures 5 units, which confirms the answer is 5. This relationship is fundamental in geometry and is crucial in solving many practical problems involving right triangles.