1. What is a Right Triangle Leg Calculator?

Definition: This calculator finds the length of an unknown leg in a right triangle when you know the hypotenuse and the other leg.

Purpose: It helps students, engineers, and construction professionals solve right triangle problems quickly and accurately.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Pythagorean theorem:

Where:

• hyp — Hypotenuse (longest side, opposite the right angle)
• leg — Known leg length
• result — Unknown leg length

Explanation: The square of the hypotenuse equals the sum of the squares of the two legs. We rearrange this to solve for the unknown leg.

3. Importance of Right Triangle Calculations

Details: Right triangle calculations are fundamental in geometry, construction, navigation, and many engineering applications.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the hypotenuse and known leg lengths in meters. Both values must be positive, and the hypotenuse must be longer than the leg.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What if I get an error?
A: Ensure the hypotenuse is longer than the known leg. If not, you've either entered values incorrectly or don't have a valid right triangle.

Q2: Can I use this for non-right triangles?
A: No, this calculator only works for right triangles (90-degree angle).

Q3: What units should I use?
A: The calculator uses meters, but any consistent unit will work as long as both inputs use the same unit.

Q4: How accurate are the results?
A: Results are accurate to 3 decimal places. For greater precision, enter more precise input values.

Q5: What if I know two legs but not the hypotenuse?
A: Use the standard Pythagorean formula: hyp = √(leg1² + leg2²)