SOLUTION: I have gone over this several times but I get so confused! Can you help? The hypotenuse of a right triangle is 32 cm more than one of the legs. If the other leg is 120 cm, how lon

Question 788833: I have gone over this several times but I get so confused! Can you help? The hypotenuse of a right triangle is 32 cm more than one of the legs. If the other leg is 120 cm, how long is the hypotenuse?
Found 2 solutions by josgarithmetic, ankor@dixie-net.com:
Answer by josgarithmetic(39617) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Legs x and y. Hypotenuse h.
x=120
y=?
h=32+y

Pythagorean Theorem:

See y^2 as term on both sides of the equation. Subtract y^2 from both sides.

Simplify and solve for y.

------because expression shows difference of two squares.

Keep simplifying,

That is the leg, y, in factored form. Just use it in computed form to help compute the value of h.

Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The hypotenuse of a right triangle is 32 cm more than one of the legs.
If the other leg is 120 cm, how long is the hypotenuse?
:
Let c = the length of the hypotenuse
then
(c-32) = one leg
:
Using a^2 + b^2 = c^2, we have:
120^2 + (c-32)^2 = c^2
FOIL (c-32)(c-32), do the math
14400 + c^2 - 64c + 1024 = c^2
Subtract c^2 from both sides
15424 - 64c = 0
15424 = 64c
c = 15424/64
c = 241 cm is the hypotenuse
:
:
Check this on your calc
other leg 241-32 = 209
Enter results: 241, confirms our solution
RELATED QUESTIONS
Please help me! I am so confused on this, I have tried it several times but its just not... (answered by josgarithmetic)
Please help me! I am so confused on this, I have tried it several times but its just not... (answered by josgarithmetic,MathTherapy)
Help! I can work all of the other problems just fine, but this one is really throwing me... (answered by Mathtut)
Hope you can help.... I"ve gone over this one a million times>>please help! One... (answered by rchill)
I need help on this problem. i know this is classic for some of you but not for me.... (answered by richwmiller)
The legs of a right triangle are 4 cm and x cm. The hypotenuse is (2x-1) cm. What is x? I (answered by Alan3354,ewatrrr,stanbon)
The legs of a right triangle are 4 cm and x cm. The hypotenuse is (2x-1) cm. What is x? I (answered by stanbon)
Hi, could you guide me about my mistake? What are the lengths of sides of an equilateral (answered by scott8148)
I know all the angles of a right triangle and the length of the hypotenuse. Can I find... (answered by Alan3354)