Leg (geometry)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In a right triangle, the legs of the triangle are the two sides that are perpendicular to each other, as opposed to the hypotenuse. The ratio of the lengths of the legs defines the trigonometric functions tangent and cotangent of the angles in the triangle. In a right triangle, the length of the leg is also the geometric mean between the length of the segment cut by the altitude to the hypotenuse and the length of the whole hypotenuse.
By the Pythagorean theorem, the sum of the areas of the squares on the legs is equal to the area of the square on the hypotenuse. Equivalently, the sum of the squares of the lengths of the legs is equal to the square of the length of the hypotenuse.
In an isosceles triangle, the legs of the triangle are the two congruent sides of the triangle.
Trapezoid either of the two sides which connect the bases of a trapezoid.
