Answer
15 units
Work Step by Step
In the given right triangle, both legs are given and the hypotenuse is missing.
Leg$_{1}$=9 and Leg$_{2}$=12
In order to find the hypotenuse, the Pythagorean theorem must be applied:
$a^{2}$+$b^{2}$=$c^{2}$
Replace $a$ the value of Leg$_{1}$ and $b$ with the value of Leg$_{2}$. Let $c$ represent the hypotenuse.
$9^{2}$+$12^{2}$$=$$c$$^{2}$
$81+144$$=$$c$$^{2}$ (work out the squares)
$225$$=$$c$$^{2}$ (add)
$\sqrt 225$$=$$\sqrt c$$^{2}$ (square root both sides to cancel the square on $c$)
$15=c$
Since $c$ represents the hypotenuse, then the hypotenuse$=15$ units (no unit of measurement is given, so "units" are used).
