SOLUTION: A man wanted a flat piece of wood in a shape of a right angled triangle,the shortest side was to have a length of three meters.calculate the other two sides if they were consecutiv

Algebra ->  Pythagorean-theorem -> SOLUTION: A man wanted a flat piece of wood in a shape of a right angled triangle,the shortest side was to have a length of three meters.calculate the other two sides if they were consecutiv      Log On


   

Question 1133663: A man wanted a flat piece of wood in a shape of a right angled triangle,the shortest side was to have a length of three meters.calculate the other two sides if they were consecutive whole numbers.
Found 2 solutions by josgarithmetic, MathTherapy:
Answer by josgarithmetic(39617) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
system%28r%5E2=x%5E2%2B3%5E2%2Cr-x=1%29
--

r-x=1
r=x%2B1
-
r%5E2=x%5E2%2B2x%2B1


x%5E2%2B9=x%5E2%2B2x%2B1
9=2x%2B1
8=2x
highlight%28x=4%29

highlight%28r=5%29


Special 3-4-5 Right Triangle

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

A man wanted a flat piece of wood in a shape of a right angled triangle,the shortest side was to have a length of three meters.calculate the other two sides if they were consecutive whole numbers.
If one leg of a right triangle is 3, then it's obvious that the other 2 sides will be 4 and 5 units......a CLASSIC 3-4-5 PYTHAG TRIPLE.