If the altitude of an isosceles right triangle has a length of x units, what is the length of one leg of the large right triangle in terms of x? x units x units x units 2x units
the picture in the attached figure
we know that
if ABC is an isosceles triangle
then
AB=BC
angle A=angle C=45 degrees
and
triangle ABD and triangle BDC also are isosceles triangles
AD=BD=x
DC=BD=x
the hypotenuse AC is equal to
\(AC=AD+DC\\ AC=x+x\\ AC=2x\)
To find the length AB applying the Pythagorean Theorem
\(AC^{2} =AB^{2} +BC^{2}\)
remember that AB=BC
\(AC^{2} =2AB^{2}\)
\(AC^{2} =2AB^{2}\\\\ AB=\frac{AC}{\sqrt{2}}\\\\ AB=\frac{2x}{\sqrt{2}}\\\\ AB=x\sqrt{2}\)
therefore
the answer is
the length of one leg of the large right triangle in terms of x is equal to \(x\sqrt{2}\)