SOLUTION: one adjacent is 12cm, the other is x. The hypotenuse is x+8. What is x? I can work it out by trial and error and get the answer 5, but how do I get it using algebra?

Algebra ->  Pythagorean-theorem -> SOLUTION: one adjacent is 12cm, the other is x. The hypotenuse is x+8. What is x? I can work it out by trial and error and get the answer 5, but how do I get it using algebra?      Log On


   

Question 565556: one adjacent is 12cm, the other is x. The hypotenuse is x+8. What is x? I can work it out by trial and error and get the answer 5, but how do I get it using algebra?
Answer by stanbon(75887) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
one adjacent is 12cm, the other is x. The hypotenuse is x+8. What is x?
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Equation:
(x+8)^2 = 12^2 + x^2
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x^2 + 16x + 64 = 144 + x^2
16x = 80
x = 5
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Cheers,
Stan H.
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