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)![]() ![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! x = height \n" ); document.write( "x+4 = width \n" ); document.write( "20 = hypotenuse \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "20^2 = x^2 + (x+4)^2 \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "400 = x^2 + x^2 + 8x + 16 \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "0 = 2x^2 +8x - 384 \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "2x^2 +8x - 384 = 0 \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "x^2 + 4x -192 = 0 \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "factor \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "(x-12)(x+16) = 0 \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "zeroes of x = 12 or -16 \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "x = -16 is not applicable \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "x = 12 is the height of the span \n" ); document.write( "x+4 = 16 is the width of the span \n" ); document.write( ". \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. \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "Done. \n" ); document.write( " |