SOLUTION: Please help me i don't understand how to do this question. A triangle has a side of length x. The second side of the triangle is 2 inches longer than the first side. The third sid

Algebra ->  Polynomials-and-rational-expressions -> SOLUTION: Please help me i don't understand how to do this question. A triangle has a side of length x. The second side of the triangle is 2 inches longer than the first side. The third sid      Log On


   

Question 482443: Please help me i don't understand how to do this question. A triangle has a side of length x. The second side of the triangle is 2 inches longer than the first side. The third side is 4 inches longer than the first side. The square of the first side plus the square of the second side is equal to the square of the third side. What is the length of each side of the triangle? Use the 5-step method.
thank you.
Answer by mananth(16946) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
let one side be x
second side = x+2
third side = x+4
x^2+(x+2)^2=(x+4)^2
x^2+x^2+4x+4=x^2+8x+16
x^2-4x-12=0
x^2-6x+2x-12=0
x(x-6)+2(x-6)=0
(x-6) (x+2)=0
x= 6 the length of smallest side.
6,8,10 are the three sides of the triangle.