SOLUTION: If both legs are x and the hypotenuse is 10 how do I solve it.

Algebra ->  Pythagorean-theorem -> SOLUTION: If both legs are x and the hypotenuse is 10 how do I solve it.      Log On


   



Question 1054511: If both legs are x and the hypotenuse is 10 how do I solve it.
Found 2 solutions by josmiceli, MathTherapy:
Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
By the pythagorean theorem:
+x%5E2+%2B+x%5E2+=+10%5E2+
+2x%5E2+=+10%5E2+
+x%5E2+=+10%5E2%2F2+
Take the square root of both sides
+x+=+sqrt%28+10%5E2%2F2+%29+
+x+=+10%2Fsqrt%282%29+
Usually, you don't want square roots
or other roots on the bottom, so do this:
+x+=+%28+sqrt%282%29+%2F+sqrt%282%29+%29%2A%28+10%2Fsqrt%282%29+%29+
+x+=+10%2Asqrt%282%29+%2F+2+
+x+=+14.14%2F2+
+x+=+7.07+
-----------------
check:
+2%2A7.07%5E2+=+10%5E2+
+2%2A49.98+=+100+
+99.97+=+100+
( error due to rounding off )
OK

Answer by MathTherapy(10552) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

If both legs are x and the hypotenuse is 10 how do I solve it.
As length of each leg is x, we get: x%5E2+%2B+x%5E2+=+10%5E2
2x%5E2+=+100___x%5E2+=+100%2F2_____x%5E2+=+50_____highlight_green%28matrix%281%2C3%2C+x+=+sqrt%2850%29%2C+or%2C+x+=+5sqrt%282%29%29%29