SOLUTION: Hi my name is Tim and I have a question about graphing triangles. 14. The vertices of a right triangle are (-12, 8), (24, 8), and (24, -7). Find the length of the hypotenuse of

Algebra ->  Algebra  -> Triangles -> SOLUTION: Hi my name is Tim and I have a question about graphing triangles. 14. The vertices of a right triangle are (-12, 8), (24, 8), and (24, -7). Find the length of the hypotenuse of      Log On

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Question 99712: Hi my name is Tim and I have a question about graphing triangles.
14. The vertices of a right triangle are (-12, 8), (24, 8), and (24, -7). Find the length of the hypotenuse of the triangle (hypotenuse = side opposite the right angle).

Answer by edjones(7311) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
you have to use the distance formula: sqrt%28%28x%5B2%5D-x%5B1%5D%29%5E2%2B%28y%5B2%5D-y%5B1%5D%29%5E2%29 on one of the sides.
if you put the points on graph paper it becomes obvious that 36 and 15 are the lengths of 2 of the sides. and the 3rd side is the hypotenuse.
now you can use the formula above or the pythagorean theorum: a^2+b^2=c^2
36^2+15^2=c^2
1296+225=1521
sqrt(1521)=39 (one way)
sqrt%28%28-12-24%29%5E2%2B%288%2B7%29%5E2%29
sqrt%28%28-36%29%5E2%2B%2815%29%5E2%29
sqrt%281296%2B225%29
sqrt%281521%29=39 (another way)
Ed