document.write( "Question 38788: The hypotenuse of a right triangle is 4 cm. longer than the one leg and 18 cm. longer than the other leg. Find the length of each side of the triangle. \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #24328 by fractalier(6550)![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! Call the shortest leg x. \n" ); document.write( "The hypotenuse is x + 18. \n" ); document.write( "The other leg is x + 14 since it is only 4 less than the hypotenuse. \n" ); document.write( "Now apply the Pythagorean Theorem: a^2 + b^2 = c^2 and we get \n" ); document.write( "x^2 + (x + 14)^2 = (x + 18)^2 \n" ); document.write( "x^2 + x^2 + 28x + 196 = x^2 + 36x + 324 \n" ); document.write( "now collecting and solving we get \n" ); document.write( "x^2 - 8x - 128 = 0 \n" ); document.write( "(x - 16)(x + 8) = 0 \n" ); document.write( "x = 16 or x = -8 \n" ); document.write( "but distance is never negative so the short leg is 16 and the longer leg is 30. The hypotenuse is 34. \n" ); document.write( " |