SOLUTION: I can't figure out how to even start this: The hypotenuse of a right triangle has length 20 cm. The sum of the lengths of the other two sides is 28 cm. Find the lengths of the oth

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Question 156936This question is from textbook PRECALCULUS Mathmatics for Calculus 4th
: I can't figure out how to even start this:
The hypotenuse of a right triangle has length 20 cm. The sum of the lengths of the other two sides is 28 cm. Find the lengths of the other two sides of the triangle. This question is from textbook PRECALCULUS Mathmatics for Calculus 4th

Answer by stanbon(75887) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let one of the sides be "x"; Let the other side be "28-x'
Use Pythagoras to find "s" and 28-x:
EQUATION:
x^2 + (28-x)^2 = 20^2
x^2 + 784 - 56x + x^2 = 400
2x^2 -56x + 384 = 0
x^2 - 28x + 192 = 0
(x-12)(x-16) = 0
x = 12 or x = 16
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Cheers,
Stan H.