Answer:
c = 42.5
Step-by-step explanation:
The legs of the triangle are a and b and the hypotenuse is c
Let a be the shorter leg
The hypotenuse is 5 more than the longest leg
c = b+5
The shortest leg is 20
a = 20
We can use the Pythagorean theorem
a^2 +b^2 = c^2
Substituting in what we know from above
20 ^2 + b^2 = (b+5)^2
FOIL (b+5)^2 = b^2 +5b+5b +25 = b^2+10b+25
400 + b^2 = b^2+10b+25
Subtract b^2 from both sides
400+b&2-b^2 = b^2 -b^2 +10b+25
400 = 10b+25
Subtract 25 from both sides
400-25 = 10b+25-25
375 = 10b
Divide by 10
375/10 = 10b/10
37.5 = b
But we want to find c
c=b+5
c = 37.5+5
c = 42.5
