SOLUTION: the sides of a right angle triangle, in centimetres, are x, 2x-2, and x+2, where x+2 is the hypotenuse. use pythagoras' theorem to find their lengths in other words find x the

Algebra ->  Pythagorean-theorem -> SOLUTION: the sides of a right angle triangle, in centimetres, are x, 2x-2, and x+2, where x+2 is the hypotenuse. use pythagoras' theorem to find their lengths in other words find x the       Log On


   



Question 824026: the sides of a right angle triangle, in centimetres, are x, 2x-2, and x+2, where x+2 is the hypotenuse.
use pythagoras' theorem to find their lengths
in other words find x
the answer is:
x= 3cm
2x-2= 4cm
x+2= 5cm
but how do i find this?

Answer by KMST(5328) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The Pythagorean theorem says
oneleg%5E2%2Btheotherleg%5E2=hypotenuse%5E2 .
Applied to this case, we get the equation
x%5E2%2B%282x-2%29%5E2=%28x%2B2%29%5E2 .

Solving:
x%5E2%2B%282x-2%29%5E2=%28x%2B2%29%5E2
x%5E2%2B4x%5E2-8x%2B4=x%5E2%2B4x%2B4
5x%5E2-8x%2B4=x%5E2%2B4x%2B4
5x%5E2-8x%2Bcross%284%29=x%5E2%2B4x%2Bcross%284%29
5x%5E2-x%5E2-8x-4x=0
4x%5E2-12x=0
4x%28x-3%29=0
4x=0<-->x=0 does not make sense.
The only solution that makes sense is
x-3=0<-->x=3
So, if x=3
x%2B2=3%2B2 --> x%2B2=5 and
2x-2=2%2A3-2 --> 2x-2=6-2 --> 2x-2=4