document.write( "Question 896676: the hypotenuse of a right angled triangle is 20cm. the difference between its other two sides be 4cm. The sides are \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #543701 by Theo(13342)\"\" \"About 
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hypotenuse is 20.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "one of the sides is x.
\n" ); document.write( "the other side is (x+4)\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "pythagorus says:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "x^2 + (x+4)^2 = 20^2 which becomes:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "x^2 + x^2 + 8x + 16 = 400\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "subtract 400 from both sides of the equation and combine like terms to get:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "2x^2 + 8x - 384 = 0\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "divide both sides of the equation by 2 to get:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "x^2 + 4x - 192 = 0\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "factor to get:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "(x + 16) * (x - 12) = 0\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "solve for x to get:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "x = -16 or x = 12\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "x can't be negative so the solution is x = 12\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "if x = 12, then x+4 = 16\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "your sides are 12 and 16.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "by pythagorus, 12^2 + 16^2 = 20^2 which becomes:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "144 + 256 = 400 which becomes:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "400 = 400 confirming the solution is good.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "the sides are 12 and 16 and the hypotenuse is 20\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "this triangle is similar to a 3/4/5 triangle since 12/16/20 is a multiple of 3/4/5 by a factor of 4.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "the triangles have the same angles and the sides are proportional which is the definition of similar triangles.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "you didn't need to know that.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "it's an extra.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "your solution is that the sides are 12 and 16.\r
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