Question

The hypotenuse of a right triangle is 1 centimeter longer than one side and 4 centimeters longer than three times the other side. Find the dimensions of the triangle.

Answer 1

Answer:

$Hypotenuse = 25cm$

$Opposite = 24cm$

$Adjacent = 7cm$

Step-by-step explanation:

Represent:

• The opposite with a
• The adjacent with b
• The hypotenuse with c

Given that:

$c = 1 + a$

$c = 4 + 3b$

Required

Solve for a, b and c

$c = c$

So, we have:

$1 + a = 4 + 3b$

Subtract 1 from both sides

$a = 4 -1 + 3b$

$a = 3 + 3b$

Apply Pythagoras Theorem

$c^2 = a^2 + b^2$

Substitute 3 + 3b for a and 4 + 3b for c

$(4 + 3b)^2 = (3 + 3b)^2 + b^2$

Open brackets

$16 + 12b+12b+9b^2 = 9 + 9b+9b+9b^2 +b^2$

$16 + 24b+9b^2 = 9 + 18b+10b^2$

Collect Like Terms

$10b^2 - 9b^2 + 18b - 24b + 9 - 16 = 0$

$b^2 - 6b -7 = 0$

Expand

$b^2 +b-7b-7=0$

Factorize:

$b(b+1)-7(b+1) =0$

$(b-7)(b+1) = 0$

Split:

$b - 7 = 0\ or\ b+1=0$

$b = 7\ or\ b=-1$

But the adjacent of a triangle can't have a negative measurement.

So:

$b = 7$

Recall that:

$c = 4 + 3b$

$a = 3 + 3b$

Substitute 7 for b in the above expressions

$c = 4 + 3 * 7$

$c = 4 + 21$

$c = 25$

$a = 3 + 3 * 7$

$a = 3 + 21$

$a = 24$

Hence, the dimensions of the triangle are:

$Hypotenuse = 25cm$

$Opposite = 24cm$

$Adjacent = 7cm$