SOLUTION: the length of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is 12 yards. the other two sides are equal in length .find the length of each side to the nearest tenth of a yard.

Algebra ->  Pythagorean-theorem -> SOLUTION: the length of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is 12 yards. the other two sides are equal in length .find the length of each side to the nearest tenth of a yard.       Log On


   

Question 218293: the length of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is 12 yards. the other two sides are equal in length .find the length of each side to the nearest tenth of a yard.
Answer by drj(1380) About Me  (Show Source):
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The length of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is 12 yards. The other two sides are equal in length. Find the length of each side to the nearest tenth of a yard.

Step 1. Use the Pythagorean Theorem which states that the sum of the squares of the legs (a and b) is equal to the square of the hypotenuse (c). That is,

c%5E2=a%5E2%2Bb%5E2

12%5E2=a%5E2%2Ba%5E2 since the sides of are equal as given by the problem

144=2a%5E2

Divide 2 to both sides of the equation

144%2F2=2a%5E2%2F2

72=a%5E2

Take the square root to both sides of the equation.

sqrt%2872%29=sqrt%28a%5E2%29=a

a=8.49

Step 3. ANSWER: Each side is 8.49 or 8.5 yards.

I hope the above steps were helpful.

For FREE Step-By-Step videos in Introduction to Algebra, please visit http://www.FreedomUniversity.TV/courses/IntroAlgebra and for Trigonometry visit http://www.FreedomUniversity.TV/courses/Trigonometry.

And good luck in your studies!

Respectfully,
Dr J