Question

The hypotenuse of a right triangle is three times the length of one of its legs. The length of the other leg is four feet. Find the lengths of the three sides of the triangle. For non-integer answer(s), round your answer(s) to the nearest tenth.​

Answer 1

Hello!

It is given information that this triangle is a right triangle, meaning that the Pythagorean Theorem can apply here.

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

We can set the length of a leg as an unknown variable $x$.

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

Remember that it is the whole $3x$ term being squared, meaning that it'll simplify to $9x^2$, not $3x^2$.

$x^2+16=9x^2$

$8x^2=16$

$x^2=2$

$x=\sqrt{2}$

This means we can plug back in to find the sides.

The hypotenuse would be $3\sqrt{2}$, or 4.2.

And the legs would be 1.4 and 4, respectively.

Hope this helps!