QuestionThe length of one leg of a right triangle is 7 cm more than that of the other leg. The length of the hypotenuse is 3 cm more than double that of the shorter leg. Find the lengths of each of the three sides.
Studdy Solution
STEP 1
1. Let the length of the shorter leg be cm.
2. The length of the longer leg is cm.
3. The length of the hypotenuse is cm.
4. Use the Pythagorean theorem to relate the sides of the triangle.
STEP 2
1. Set up the equation using the Pythagorean theorem.
2. Solve the quadratic equation for .
3. Calculate the lengths of the legs and the hypotenuse.
4. Verify the solution.
STEP 3
Using the Pythagorean theorem, which states that in a right triangle, the square of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides, set up the equation:
STEP 4
Expand each term in the equation:
STEP 5
Combine like terms:
STEP 6
Rearrange the equation to bring all terms to one side:
STEP 7
Simplify the equation by dividing all terms by 2:
STEP 8
Solve the quadratic equation using the quadratic formula , where , , and :
STEP 9
Calculate the roots:
This gives two possible solutions:
Since a length cannot be negative, we take .
STEP 10
Calculate the lengths of the other sides using :
Shorter leg: cm
Longer leg: cm
Hypotenuse: cm
STEP 11
Verify the solution by checking the Pythagorean theorem:
The solution satisfies the Pythagorean theorem.
The lengths of the sides of the triangle are:
Shorter leg: cm
Longer leg: cm
Hypotenuse: cm
Was this helpful?