SOLUTION: The length of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is 40 centimeters. The legs of the triangle are the same length. How long is each leg of the triangle?

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Question 670822: The length of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is 40 centimeters. The legs of the triangle are the same length. How long is each leg of the triangle?
Answer by ReadingBoosters(3246) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Apply Pythagorean Theorem
...
a%5E2+%2B+b%5E2+=+c%5E2
except in this canse
a%5E2+=+b%5E2
...
a%5E2+%2B+a%5E2+=+c%5E2
or
2a%5E2+=+40%5E2
...
sqrt%282a%5E2%29+=+sqrt%2840%5E2%29
%28a%29sqrt%282%29+=+40
...
a = 40%2Fsqrt%282%29
= %2840%2Fsqrt%282%29%29%28sqrt%282%29%2Fsqrt%282%29%29
= 40sqrt%282%29%2F2
= %2820cross%2840%29sqrt%282%29%29%2F1cross%282%29
highlight_green%28a+=+20sqrt%282%29%29cm for each leg.
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