Math  /  Geometry

QuestionThe length of the longer leg of a right triangle is 19 cm more than five times the length of the shorter leg. The length of the hypotenuse is 20 cm more than five times the length of the shorter leg. Find the side lengths of the triangle.
Length of the shorter leg: \square cm
Length of the longer leg: \square cm Length of the \square cm hypotenuse: 5

Studdy Solution

STEP 1

1. We have a right triangle with sides: shorter leg, longer leg, and hypotenuse.
2. The length of the longer leg is 19 cm more than five times the length of the shorter leg.
3. The length of the hypotenuse is 20 cm more than five times the length of the shorter leg.
4. We will use the Pythagorean Theorem to solve for the side lengths.

STEP 2

1. Define variables
2. Set up equations based on the problem statement
3. Use the Pythagorean Theorem to form an equation
4. Solve the system of equations
5. Verify the solution

STEP 3

Define the variable x x as the length of the shorter leg of the triangle.

STEP 4

Express the lengths of the other sides in terms of x x : - The longer leg is 5x+19 5x + 19 cm. - The hypotenuse is 5x+20 5x + 20 cm.

STEP 5

Apply 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:
(5x+20)2=x2+(5x+19)2 (5x + 20)^2 = x^2 + (5x + 19)^2

STEP 6

Expand the squares in the equation:
(5x+20)2=(5x+20)(5x+20)=25x2+200x+400 (5x + 20)^2 = (5x + 20)(5x + 20) = 25x^2 + 200x + 400
(5x+19)2=(5x+19)(5x+19)=25x2+190x+361 (5x + 19)^2 = (5x + 19)(5x + 19) = 25x^2 + 190x + 361

STEP 7

Substitute these expanded forms back into the Pythagorean equation:
25x2+200x+400=x2+25x2+190x+361 25x^2 + 200x + 400 = x^2 + 25x^2 + 190x + 361

STEP 8

Simplify the equation:
25x2+200x+400=26x2+190x+361 25x^2 + 200x + 400 = 26x^2 + 190x + 361

STEP 9

Rearrange the equation to bring all terms to one side:
0=26x2+190x+36125x2200x400 0 = 26x^2 + 190x + 361 - 25x^2 - 200x - 400
0=x210x39 0 = x^2 - 10x - 39

STEP 10

Solve the quadratic equation x210x39=0 x^2 - 10x - 39 = 0 using the quadratic formula:
x=b±b24ac2a x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}
where a=1 a = 1 , b=10 b = -10 , and c=39 c = -39 .

STEP 11

Calculate the discriminant:
b24ac=(10)24(1)(39)=100+156=256 b^2 - 4ac = (-10)^2 - 4(1)(-39) = 100 + 156 = 256

STEP 12

Substitute the values into the quadratic formula:
x=(10)±2562(1) x = \frac{-(-10) \pm \sqrt{256}}{2(1)}
x=10±162 x = \frac{10 \pm 16}{2}

STEP 13

Calculate the two possible solutions for x x :
x=10+162=13 x = \frac{10 + 16}{2} = 13
x=10162=3 x = \frac{10 - 16}{2} = -3
Since a side length cannot be negative, x=13 x = 13 .

STEP 14

Verify the solution by calculating the other sides:
- Longer leg: 5x+19=5(13)+19=65+19=84 5x + 19 = 5(13) + 19 = 65 + 19 = 84 cm - Hypotenuse: 5x+20=5(13)+20=65+20=85 5x + 20 = 5(13) + 20 = 65 + 20 = 85 cm
Check using the Pythagorean Theorem:
852=132+842 85^2 = 13^2 + 84^2
7225=169+7056 7225 = 169 + 7056
7225=7225 7225 = 7225
The solution is verified.
The side lengths of the triangle are: - Length of the shorter leg: 13 \boxed{13} cm - Length of the longer leg: 84 \boxed{84} cm - Length of the hypotenuse: 85 \boxed{85} cm

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