document.write( "Question 548519: A 20-ft diagonal brace on a bridge connects a support of the center of the bridge to a side support on the bridge. The horizontal distance that it spans is 4 ft longer than the height that it reaches on the side of the bridge. Find the horizontal and vertical distances spanned by this brace. \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #357037 by oberobic(2304)\"\" \"About 
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x = height
\n" ); document.write( "x+4 = width
\n" ); document.write( "20 = hypotenuse
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\n" ); document.write( "20^2 = x^2 + (x+4)^2
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\n" ); document.write( "400 = x^2 + x^2 + 8x + 16
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\n" ); document.write( "0 = 2x^2 +8x - 384
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\n" ); document.write( "2x^2 +8x - 384 = 0
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\n" ); document.write( "x^2 + 4x -192 = 0
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\n" ); document.write( "factor
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\n" ); document.write( "(x-12)(x+16) = 0
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\n" ); document.write( "zeroes of x = 12 or -16
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\n" ); document.write( "\"+graph%28500%2C500%2C-20%2C20%2C-200%2C50%2Cx%5E2%2B4%2Ax-192%29+\"
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\n" ); document.write( "x = -16 is not applicable
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\n" ); document.write( "x = 12 is the height of the span
\n" ); document.write( "x+4 = 16 is the width of the span
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\n" ); document.write( "Check using the Pythagorean formula.
\n" ); document.write( "12^2 + 16^2 = 144+256 = 400
\n" ); document.write( "20^2 = 400
\n" ); document.write( "Correct.
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\n" ); document.write( "Done.
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