GED Math Practice Test

In a right triangle, if a=3 and b=4, solve for c using the Pythagorean theorem.

1. c=5

2. c=6

3. c=2

4. c=7

The correct answer is: c=5

To solve for c in a right triangle where a and b are the lengths of the two legs, the Pythagorean theorem is used, which states that \( c^2 = a^2 + b^2 \). In this case, substituting the given values, we have: - a = 3 - b = 4 Calculating their squares: - \( a^2 = 3^2 = 9 \) - \( b^2 = 4^2 = 16 \) Adding these together: - \( c^2 = 9 + 16 = 25 \) Next, to find c, we take the square root of 25: - \( c = \sqrt{25} = 5 \) Thus, the length of the hypotenuse c is 5. The choice stating that c equals 5 is the correct answer, as it aligns perfectly with the calculations derived from the Pythagorean theorem.