SOLUTION: The hypotenuse of a right triangle is 1 foot longer than one of the sides. If the other side was 1 foot longer, it would be exactly one third the length of the first side. Find the

Algebra ->  Pythagorean-theorem -> SOLUTION: The hypotenuse of a right triangle is 1 foot longer than one of the sides. If the other side was 1 foot longer, it would be exactly one third the length of the first side. Find the      Log On


   



Question 1053258: The hypotenuse of a right triangle is 1 foot longer than one of the sides. If the other side was 1 foot longer, it would be exactly one third the length of the first side. Find the length of each of the sides, and of the hypotenuse.
Found 2 solutions by Boreal, josmiceli:
Answer by Boreal(15235) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
hypotenuse=x
one side is x-1
the third side is x^2-(x-1)^2, which is sqrt {x^2-(x^2-2x+1)}=sqrt (2x-1).
adding 1 to the third side makes it sqrt(2x-1)+1=(1/3)(x-1)=(1/3)x-(1/3)
sqrt(2x-1)=(1/3)x-(4/3)
square both sides
2x-1=(1/9)x^2-(8/9)x+(16/9)
0=(1/9)x^2-(26/9)x+(25/9)
multiply everything by 9
0=x^2-26x+25
(x-25)(x-1)=0;
x=25, 1, and 1 is impossible
x-1=24
The third side is 7 (7,24,25 triangle) and 7+1 is 1/3 of 24.

Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
let the sides and the hypotenuse of the triangle be:
+a+, +b+, and +c+ ( in feet )
--------------------------
given:
(1) +c+=+a+%2B+1+
(2) +b+%2B+1+=+%281%2F3%29%2Aa+
(3) +a%5E2+%2B+b%5E2+=+c%5E2+ ( pythagorean theorem )
--------------------------
(2) +b+=+%281%2F3%29%2Aa+-+1+
Substitute (1) and (2) into (3)
(3) +a%5E2+%2B+%28%281%2F3%29%2Aa+-+1+%29%5E2+=+%28+a%2B1+%29%5E2+
(3) +a%5E2+%2B++%281%2F9%29%2Aa%5E2+-+%282%2F3%29%2Aa+%2B+1++=+a%5E2+%2B+2a+%2B+1+
(3) +%281%2F9%29%2Aa%5E2+-+%288%2F3%29%2Aa+=+0++
(3) +a%5E2+-+24a+=+0+
(3) +a%2A%28+a+-+24+%29+=+0+
+a+=+24+
and
(1) +c+=+a+%2B+1+
(1) +c+=+24+%2B+1+
(1) +c+=+25+
and
(2) +b+=+%281%2F3%29%2Aa+-+1+
(2) +b+=+%281%2F3%29%2A24+-+1+
(2) +b+=+7+
The sides are 7, 24, and 25
--------------------------
check answer:
(3) +a%5E2+%2B+b%5E2+=+c%5E2+
(3) +24%5E2+%2B+7%5E2+=+25%5E2+
(3) +576+%2B+49+=+625+
(3) +625+=+625+
You can check (1) and (2)