Question

The hypotenuse of the right triangle is 5y inches long. The lengths of the legs are x + 8 and x + 3 inches. If the perimeter of the triangle is 76
inches and the length of the hypotenuse minus the length of the shorter leg is 17 inches, how many inches long is the hypotenuse?
X + 8
5y
x + 3​

Answer 1

Answer: 35 inches.

Step-by-step explanation:

We know that:

hypotenuse = 5*y in

cathetus 1 = (x + 8) in

cathetus 2 = (x + 3) in

The perimeter of the triangle is 76 inches, then:

5*y + (x + 8) + (x + 3) = 76

5*y + 2*x + 13 = 76

We also know that the length of the hypotenuse minus the length of the shorter leg is 17 in.

The shorter leg is x + 3, then:

5*y - (x + 3) = 17

Then we have the equations:

5*y + 2*x + 11 = 76

5*y - (x + 3) = 17

With only these two we can solve the system, first we need to isolate one of the variables in one of the equations, i will isolate x in the second equation.

x = 5*y  - 3 - 17 = 5*y - 20

x = 5*y - 20

Now we can replace this in the other equation, we get:

5*y + 2*x + 11 = 76

5*y + 2*(5*y - 20) + 11 = 76

15*y - 40 + 13 = 76

15*y - 29 = 76

15*y = 76 + 29 = 105

and remember that the hypotenuse is equal to 5*y, then we want to get:

3*(5*y) = 105

5*y = 105/3 = 35

5*y = 35

Then te length of the hypotenuse is 35 inches.