SOLUTION: c=19 b=x a=3x find the length of the sides a and b on following triangle

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Question 149772: c=19 b=x a=3x find the length of the sides a and b on following triangle
Answer by Earlsdon(6294) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
You haven't said so in your problem description but the only way to get an answer is to assume that it is a right triangle with the hypotenuse, c = 19 and the other two legs are x and 3x each.
So, proceeding on this assumption, you can use the Pythagorean theorem to find the value of x and, thus, the lengths of sides a and b.
c%5E2+=+a%5E2%2Bb%5E2 Substitute c = 19, a = x, and b = 3x.
19%5E2+=+x%5E2%2B%283x%29%5E2 Simplify and solve for x.
361+=+x%5E2%2B9x%5E2
361+=+10x%5E2 Divide both sides by 10.
36.1+=+x%5E2 Take the square root of both sides.
6.008+=+x
Side a = 6.
side b = 3(6) = 18.