SOLUTION: The hypotenuse of right triangle is 2.8 units long leg is 1.7 units longer than the shorter leg. Find the length of the sides of the triangle.

Algebra ->  Quadratic Equations and Parabolas  -> Quadratic Equations Lessons  -> Quadratic Equation Lesson -> SOLUTION: The hypotenuse of right triangle is 2.8 units long leg is 1.7 units longer than the shorter leg. Find the length of the sides of the triangle.      Log On


   

Question 108582: The hypotenuse of right triangle is 2.8 units long leg is 1.7 units longer than the shorter leg. Find the length of the sides of the triangle.
Answer by Fombitz(32388) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
S - Short Leg
L - Long Leg
H - Hypotenuse
S%5E2%2BL%5E2=H%5E2
H=2.8
L=1.7%2BS
S%5E2%2BL%5E2=H%5E2
S%5E2%2B%281.7%2BS%29%5E2=%282.8%29%5E2
S%5E2%2B%282.89%2B3.4S%2BS%5E2%29=7.84
2S%5E2%2B3.4S-4.95=0
S+=+%28-b+%2B-+sqrt%28+b%5E2-4%2Aa%2Ac+%29%29%2F%282%2Aa%29+
S+=+%28-3.4+%2B-+sqrt%283.4%5E2-4%2A%282%29%2A%28-4.95%29+%29%29%2F%282%2A2%29+
S+=+%28-3.4+%2B-+sqrt%2811.56%2B39.6%29%29%2F%284%29+
S+=+%28-3.4+%2B-+sqrt%2851.16%29%29%2F%284%29+
S+=+%28-3.4+%2B-+7.153%29%2F%284%29+
Only the positive root make sense in this case.
S+=+%28-3.4+%2B+7.153%29%2F%284%29+
highlight%28S+=+0.94%29
L=1.7%2BS
L=1.7%2B.94
highlight%28L=2.64%29
Verify your answer.
S%5E2%2BL%5E2=H%5E2
0.94%5E2%2B2.64%5E2=2.8%5E2
0.88%2B6.97=7.84
7.85=7.84 Close enough from roundoff error.
Good answer.
S=0.94 units
L=2.64 units