What is the hypotenuse in a right triangle?

In a right triangle, the hypotenuse is defined as the longest side, which is situated opposite the right angle (the 90-degree angle). This is a fundamental property of right triangles: while the two other sides (often referred to as the legs) form the right angle, the hypotenuse stretches across from one end of the right angle to the other, making it longer than either of the two legs.

The nature of the hypotenuse plays a crucial role in various mathematical concepts, especially in the Pythagorean theorem, which states that in a right triangle, the square of the length of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares of the lengths of the other two sides. This reinforces the idea that the hypotenuse is always the longest side in such triangles, making the answer correct.