SOLUTION: The hypotenuse of a right triangle is 4 cm less than twice as long as one of the other side. If the third side is 16 cm long, find the length of the hypotenuse.

 

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The hypotenuse of a right triangle is 4cm less than twice as long as one of the other side 

If the third side is 16 cm long, find the length of the hypotenuse.

Applying the Pythagorean Theorem

 16^2 + x^2 = y^2      | y = (2x-4)

 256 + x^2 = 4x^2 - 16x + 16 

  3x^2 -16x - 240 = 0

 

 

        x = 12cm, the other leg    (throwing out negative solution for unit measure)

 Hypotenuse is 20cm

and...