Question 218293
The length of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is 12 yards. The other two sides are equal in length.  Find the length of each side to the nearest tenth of a yard.  


Step 1. Use the Pythagorean Theorem which states that the sum of the squares of the legs (a and b) is equal to the square of the hypotenuse (c).  That is,


{{{c^2=a^2+b^2}}}


{{{12^2=a^2+a^2}}} since the sides of are equal as given by the problem


{{{144=2a^2}}}


Divide 2 to both sides of the equation


{{{144/2=2a^2/2}}}


{{{72=a^2}}}


Take the square root to both sides of the equation.


{{{sqrt(72)=sqrt(a^2)=a}}}


{{{a=8.49}}}


Step 3.  ANSWER: Each side is 8.49 or 8.5 yards.


I hope the above steps were helpful.


For FREE Step-By-Step videos in Introduction to Algebra, please visit http://www.FreedomUniversity.TV/courses/IntroAlgebra and for Trigonometry visit http://www.FreedomUniversity.TV/courses/Trigonometry.


And good luck in your studies!


Respectfully,
Dr J