The lengths of two sides of a right triangle are 12 inches and 15 inches. What is the difference between the two possible lengths of the third side of the triangle? Round your answer to the nearest tenth.

If 12 and 15 inches are the legs, the third side is the hypotenuse: √(12² + 15²) = √369 ≈ 19.2 inches. If 15 inches is the hypotenuse and 12 inches is a leg, the third side is √(15² − 12²) = 9 inches. Their difference is about 19.2 − 9 = 10.2 inches, so the answer is A, 10.2 inches.

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