Question

A block of land is in the shape of a right-angled triangle with a perimeter of 150m and a hypotenuse of 65m. Determine the lengths of the other two sides. Show your working.

Answer 1

Let 1 side be x m

then the other will be ( 150 - 65 -x ) = 85-x m

x^2 + ( 85-x)^2 = 65^2

x^2 + 7225 +x^2 - 170x = 4225

2x^2 -170x + 3000 = 0

x^2 - 85x + 1500 = 0

( x -60) ( x-25) = 0

x = 60 or 25