<PRE><B>Question 391244</B>
use the Pythagorean theorem to find the value of y, to the nearest hundredth. side a is y+2, side b is y and side c is 17.
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If I assume that c is the hypotenuse I get:
17^2 = y^2 + (y+2)^2
289 = y^2 + y^2+4y+4
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Rearrange:
2y^2 + 4y -285 = 0
y = [-4 +- sqrt(16-4*2*-285)]/4
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y = [-4 +- sqrt(2296)]/4
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y = [-4 +- 47.92]/4
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y = [43.92]/4
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y = 10.98
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Cheers,
Stan H.
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