SOLUTION: In a right trangle, the hypotenuse is 8cm longer than the shorter leg. The longer leg measures 16cm. Find the lenght of the hypotenuse (in cm).

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Question 805274: In a right trangle, the hypotenuse is 8cm longer than the shorter leg. The longer leg measures 16cm. Find the lenght of the hypotenuse (in cm).
Answer by josgarithmetic(39617) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
x is short leg
y is long leg
hypotenuse is x+8, directly from the description as worded with use of x.
y = 16, as from the description and assignment of y, long leg.

x%5E2%2By%5E2=%28x%2B8%29%5E2, Pythagorean Theorem.
x%5E2%2B16%5E2=%28x%2B8%29%5E2
x%5E2%2B16%5E2=x%5E2%2B16x%2B64
See the term, x%5E2 on both sides, shown as "positive" term.
16%5E2=16x%2B64
16x%2B64=16%5E2
16x=16%5E2-64
x=%2816%5E2-64%29%2F16 very convenient values.
x=%2816%5E2%29%2F16-64%2F16
x=16-2%2A4%2A2%2A4%2F%284%2A4%29
x=16-4
highlight%28x=12%29, which is the length of the short leg. The highlight%28hypotenuse%29 was described in terms of this x value.


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Hypotenuse is h=x%2B8=12%2B8=highlight%2820%29