Find the leg lengths of a triangle given hypotenuse?

Hello, I am 14 years old, in 8th grade, Pre-Algebra.

My math teacher isn't easy to approach (Grouchy, yells at you when you make a mistake etc.) so I can't ask her for help. I have a Pre-Algebra Exit Exam coming up and I am currently doing review homework and I can't find this in my notes anywhere (believe me I searched for a good couple hours trying to figure this out)

Long story short I need help!

"The hypotenuse of an Isosceles right triangle has a length of 9 meters. Find the leg lengths to the nearest hundredth of a meter."

I have absolutely NO idea how to go about this! Someone please help me. Much thanks in advance.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rhckids

Hello, I am 14 years old, in 8th grade, Pre-Algebra.

My math teacher isn't easy to approach (Grouchy, yells at you when you make a mistake etc.) so I can't ask her for help. I have a Pre-Algebra Exit Exam coming up and I am currently doing review homework and I can't find this in my notes anywhere (believe me I searched for a good couple hours trying to figure this out)

Long story short I need help!

"The hypotenuse of an Isosceles right triangle has a length of 9 meters. Find the leg lengths to the nearest hundredth of a meter."

I have absolutely NO idea how to go about this! Someone please help me. Much thanks in advance.

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The triangle is isosceles therefore the other two sides have the same length, call it x.

Then from Pythagoras' Theorem: x^2 + x^2 = 9^2 therefore 2x^2 = 81. Solve for x.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rhckids

Hello, I am 14 years old, in 8th grade, Pre-Algebra.

My math teacher isn't easy to approach (Grouchy, yells at you when you make a mistake etc.) so I can't ask her for help. I have a Pre-Algebra Exit Exam coming up and I am currently doing review homework and I can't find this in my notes anywhere (believe me I searched for a good couple hours trying to figure this out)

Long story short I need help!

"The hypotenuse of an Isosceles right triangle has a length of 9 meters. Find the leg lengths to the nearest hundredth of a meter."

I have absolutely NO idea how to go about this! Someone please help me. Much thanks in advance.

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Dear rhckids,

Since this is a right angled traingle (which I assumed as you have mentioned a hypotenuse.) you can use the Pythagorean law. I have drawn the diagram for you. Hope you can continue.

Thank you so much! I really should have known that (Silly me). Anyhow thank you for taking the time to help me (both of you)!