Question 765725
Q:
In a right triangle a line perpendicular to the hypotenuse drawn from the midpoint of one of the sides divides the hypotenuse into segments which are 10 cm and 6cm long. find the lengths of the two sides of the triangle.
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A:
{{{drawing(200,200,-3,15,-3,15,line(0,0,8sqrt(3),0), line(0,0,0,8), line(0,8,8sqrt(3),0),line(4sqrt(3),0,5sqrt(3),3), locate(1.75sqrt(3),0,"x"), locate(6sqrt(3),0,"x"), locate(2.5sqrt(3),7,"10"), locate(6.5sqrt(3),3,"6"), line(0,1,1,1),line(1,1,1,0), locate(-1,5,"y"))}}}
By similarity of triangles:
{{{6/x}}} = {{{2x/16}}}
{{{2x^2}}} = 96
{{{x^2}}} = 48
x = {{{4sqrt(3)}}}
2x = {{{8sqrt(3)}}}
Using Pythagorean Theorem:
{{{y^2}}} + {{{(8sqrt(3))^2}}} = {{{16^2}}}
{{{y^2}}} + 192 = 256
{{{y^2}}} = 64
y = 8
The other sides of the triangle are {{{highlight(8sqrt(3))}}} cm and {{{highlight(8)}}} cm.