College Math Placement Practice Test

To determine the hypotenuse of a right triangle, you can use the Pythagorean theorem, which states that in a right triangle, the square of the length of the hypotenuse (the side opposite the right angle) is equal to the sum of the squares of the lengths of the other two sides.

In this case, let the lengths of the legs be 3 and 4. According to the theorem, you would calculate it as follows:

1. Square the lengths of the legs:

\[

3^2 = 9 \quad \text{and} \quad 4^2 = 16

\]

2. Add these two values together:

\[

9 + 16 = 25

\]

3. Finally, take the square root of that sum to find the length of the hypotenuse:

\[

\sqrt{25} = 5

\]

Thus, the hypotenuse measures 5 units, confirming that the correct answer is indeed 5. This calculation directly follows the principles of the Pythagorean theorem, making it essential for solving any problems involving right triangles.