In a right triangle, which side is the hypotenuse?

In a right triangle, which side is the hypotenuse?

• A. A leg.
• B. The side opposite the obtuse angle.
• C. The side opposite the right angle.
• D. The side with the same length as the other leg.

Answer: (C)

In a right triangle, the hypotenuse is the side opposite the right angle, and it is the longest side. The two legs meet to form the right angle, so they are the sides that are not opposite it. The hypotenuse is the one across from the 90-degree corner, which is also the side described by the Pythagorean relationship a^2 + b^2 = c^2, where c is the length of the hypotenuse. So the correct idea is that the side opposite the right angle is the hypotenuse. A leg refers to a side that forms the right angle. There isn’t an obtuse angle in a right triangle, so the side opposite an obtuse angle doesn’t apply here. The hypotenuse being equal in length to the other leg would only happen in a very specific, non-general case and isn’t what defines the hypotenuse.

In a right triangle, the hypotenuse is the side opposite the right angle, and it is the longest side. The two legs meet to form the right angle, so they are the sides that are not opposite it. The hypotenuse is the one across from the 90-degree corner, which is also the side described by the Pythagorean relationship a^2 + b^2 = c^2, where c is the length of the hypotenuse.

So the correct idea is that the side opposite the right angle is the hypotenuse. A leg refers to a side that forms the right angle. There isn’t an obtuse angle in a right triangle, so the side opposite an obtuse angle doesn’t apply here. The hypotenuse being equal in length to the other leg would only happen in a very specific, non-general case and isn’t what defines the hypotenuse.