SOLUTION: A right triangle has a perimeter of 36 units if the hypotenuse is 15 units, how long are the other 2 sides? can you please explain me this? I dont understand.Thanks in advance.

Question 694548: A right triangle has a perimeter of 36 units if the hypotenuse is 15 units, how long are the other 2 sides?
can you please explain me this? I dont understand.Thanks in advance.
Answer by stanbon(75887) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
A right triangle has a perimeter of 36 units if the hypotenuse is 15 units, how long are the other 2 sides?
-----
Perimeter = a + b + c
36 = a + b + 15
a + b = 21
---
a = 21-b
-------------------
Use Pythagoras:
a^2 + b^2 = c^2
(21-b)^2 + b^2 = 15^2
---
441 - 42b + 2b^2 = 225
2b^2 - 42b + 216 = 0
----
b^2 -21b + 108 = 0
----
b = [21 +- sqrt(441-4*108)]/2
------
b = [21 +- sqrt(9)]/2
b = [21+- 3]/2
b = 12 or b = 9
---
Using a = 21-b
If b = 12, a = 9
If b = 9, a = 12
======================
cheers,
Stan H.
===============

RELATED QUESTIONS
A right triangle has one leg that is 12 units long and a hypotenuse that is 15 units... (answered by ewatrrr)

An isosceles right triangle has sides that are x + 2 units long and a hypotenuse that is... (answered by josgarithmetic)

If a right triangle has a hypotenuse 14 units long and one leg 6 units long.What is the... (answered by Alan3354)

The legs of a right triangle have lengths (in units) x+2 and x+6. The hypotenuse has... (answered by richwmiller)

If a right triangle has a hypotenuse of 20 units and a leg of 16 units, what is the... (answered by Zucchini)

If the lengths of the sides of a right triangle are 5 units and 12 units, what is the... (answered by solver91311)

If ABC is a right isosceles triangle whose hypotenuse is 4 units long, how long is each... (answered by John10)

about how long are the legs of an isosceles right triangle with a hypotenuse that is 10... (answered by Fombitz)

about how long are the legs of an isosceles right triangle with a hypotenuse that is 10... (answered by Fombitz,ewatrrr)