SOLUTION: The lengths of the sides of a right triangle are x, x+4, and x+8 inches. What is the value of x?

 

Hi

The lengths of the sides of a  triangle are x, x+4, and x+8 inches:

 x^2 + (x+4)^2 = (x+8)^2    ||Pythagorean theorem for right Triangles

 x^2 + x^2 + 8x + 16 = x^2 +16x + 64

 x^2 -8x - 48 = 0

 (x-12)(x+8) = 0

 (x-12)= 0 x = 12

( x+8) = 0 x = -8  ||throwing out negative solution to express length

  x = 12

CHECKING our Answer***

 144 + 256 = 400 = 20^2