SOLUTION: A lot is in the shape of a right triangle. The shorter leg measures 120 m. The hypotenuse is 40 m longer than the length of the longer leg. How long is the longer leg?

Question 184271This question is from textbook College Algebra
: A lot is in the shape of a right triangle. The shorter leg measures 120 m. The hypotenuse is 40 m longer than the length of the longer leg. How long is the longer leg?

This question is from textbook College Algebra

Answer by stanbon(75887) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
A lot is in the shape of a right triangle. The shorter leg measures 120 m. The hypotenuse is 40 m longer than the length of the longer leg. How long is the longer leg?

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Let the longer leg be "x" m in length.
Then the hypotenuse is "x+40" m
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Equation:
(x+40)^2 = x^2 + 120^2
x^2 + 80x + 6400 = x^2 = 14400
x^2 + 79x - 8000 = 0
x = [-79 +- sqrt(79^2 - 4*-8000)]/2
Positive solution:
x = [-79 + sqrt(38241)]/2
x = 58.28 (longer leg)
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Cheers,
San H.

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