A right triangle has a hypotenuse of 13 cm and one leg of 5 cm. Find the length of the other leg.

Step-by-step solution

1. Use Pythagoras: $a^2+b^2=c^2$.
2. Let the unknown leg be $b$.
3. Set up $5^2+b^2=13^2$.
4. Compute $25+b^2=169$.
5. Subtract 25: $b^2=144$.
6. Take square root: $b=12$.
7. The other leg is 12 cm.

Concept tested: Right‑triangle leg

Published 10 October 2026 · How this solution was prepared and checked