Question 635988
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Hi, Previously Posted
The hypotenuse of a right triangle{{{highlight(y)}}} <u>is 4cm less than twice as long as one of the other side</u> {{{highlight(x)}}}
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 = (16 +- sqrt(3136))/(6) }}} 
{{{x = (16 +- 56)/(6) }}} 
        x = 12cm, the other leg    (throwing out negative solution for unit measure)
 Hypotenuse is 20cm
and...
 {{{ 16^2 + 12^2 = 20^2}}}