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ASVAB · Geometry

A right triangle has legs of length 6 and 8. What is the length of the hypotenuse?

Reviewed by Jordan Morley, Editorial Lead at 247SimpleTests. Written by the 247SimpleTests Editorial Team from the official source material cited on every question.

Correct answer

10

  1. A 48
  2. B 14
  3. C 100
  4. D 10

Why this is the answer

Use the Pythagorean theorem: a² + b² = c², where c is the hypotenuse. Here 6² + 8² = 36 + 64 = 100, so c = √100 = 10. The 6-8-10 triangle is a multiple of the common 3-4-5 right triangle, so recognizing that pattern gives the answer instantly. Be careful: 100 is c², not c — you must take the square root. The hypotenuse is 10. Memorizing common Pythagorean triples (3-4-5, 5-12-13, 8-15-17) speeds up these geometry problems considerably.
Source: ASVAB MK, Pythagorean Theorem

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About this topic: Geometry

Geometry on the Mathematics Knowledge section covers angles, triangles (including the Pythagorean theorem), circles, polygons, perimeter, area and volume, and basic coordinate geometry such as slope. Formulas are not provided, so they must be memorised. This is one of 19 Mathematics Knowledge questions on geometry, each with a full explanation on a single study page.

New to this exam? Our ASVAB exam guide explains the format, scoring, and how to prepare.

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