SOLUTION: Ok We have a right triangle, the hypotanuse is R+4, one of the legs is R and one is 8. I get (4+r)^2=r^2+8^2 .. how do i solve this with out the r^2 canceling out?

Algebra ->  Pythagorean-theorem -> SOLUTION: Ok We have a right triangle, the hypotanuse is R+4, one of the legs is R and one is 8. I get (4+r)^2=r^2+8^2 .. how do i solve this with out the r^2 canceling out?      Log On


   

Question 99366This question is from textbook
: Ok
We have a right triangle, the hypotanuse is R+4, one of the legs is R and one is 8. I get (4+r)^2=r^2+8^2 .. how do i solve this with out the r^2 canceling out? This question is from textbook

Found 2 solutions by edjones, timmy1729:
Answer by edjones(8007) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
a=r b=8 c=r+4
a^2+b^2=c^2
r^2+8^2=(r+4)^2
r^2+64=r^2+8r+16
subtract r^2+64 from both sides: 8r-48=0
8r=48
r=6
a=6, b=8, c=10
Ed

Answer by timmy1729(23) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
%28r+%2B+4%29%5E2+=+r%5E2+%2B+8%5E2 is the correct setup.
When you do the algebra on this, I wouldn't worry about the r%5E2 canceling out.
Here is how I would work this.
%28r+%2B+4%29%5E2+=+r%5E2+%2B+64
r%5E2+%2B+8r+%2B+16+=+r%5E2+%2B+64 Then clean this up a bit. Cancel the r%5E2 and subtract the 16 on both sides.
8r+=+48 Then divide both sides by 8 and you're done.
r+=+6
So, the sides for the triangle are 6, 8, and 10. If you cut each in half, this is a special type of right triangle called a 3,4,5 triangle.