document.write( "Question 300265: A lot is in the shape of a right triangle. The shorter leg measures 60 meters. The hypotenuse is 20 meters longer than the length of the longer leg. How long is the longer leg?
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Algebra.Com's Answer #215607 by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740)![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! A lot is in the shape of a right triangle. \n" ); document.write( "The shorter leg measures 60 meters. \n" ); document.write( " The hypotenuse is 20 meters longer than the length of the longer leg. \n" ); document.write( " How long is the longer leg? \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "Assume you are familiar with a^2 + b^2 = c^2 \n" ); document.write( "in this problem \n" ); document.write( "a = the longer leg \n" ); document.write( "b = 60 \n" ); document.write( "c = (a+20) \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "a^2 + 60^2 = (a+20)^2 \n" ); document.write( "FOIL \n" ); document.write( "a^2 + 3600 = a^2 + 40a + 400 \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "a^2 - a^2 - 40a = 400 - 3600 \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "-40a = -3200 \n" ); document.write( "a = \n" ); document.write( "a = +80 is the longer leg \n" ); document.write( "and \n" ); document.write( "20 + 80 = 100 is the hypotenuse \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "Check our solutions \n" ); document.write( "80^2 + 60^2 = 100^2 \n" ); document.write( "6400 + 3600 = 10000 \n" ); document.write( " |