Which of the following describes the shortest side in a right triangle?

In a right triangle, the shortest side is indeed one of the legs. A right triangle consists of three sides: two legs and one hypotenuse. The two legs are the sides that form the right angle, while the hypotenuse is the side opposite the right angle and is always the longest side in the triangle.

By definition, since the hypotenuse is longer than either of the legs, one of the legs must be the shortest side. This is consistent regardless of the individual lengths of the legs themselves – as long as the triangle is a right triangle, at least one leg will always be shorter than the hypotenuse.

The other choices presented do not accurately describe the relationship among the sides of a right triangle. The hypotenuse is, by definition, the longest side, so it cannot be the shortest. Additionally, it can never equal either of the legs in length. The suggestion that a side can be longer than the hypotenuse contradicts the fundamental properties of right triangles. Knowing this structure clarifies the distinct roles of the legs and the hypotenuse, reinforcing the understanding that one of the legs is always the shortest side in this type of triangle.