- #1
phoenix20_06
- 13
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Homework Statement
A city lot has the shape of a right triangle whose hypotehenuse is 7 ft longer that one of the other sides. Perimiter of the lot is 392 ft how long is each side.
Homework Equations
P = a + b +c = 392
hypothenuse is c^2 = a^2 + b^2
so if c is 7ft longer then one of the sides (let's say b)
then b +7 = c or b = c-7
a+ c-7 +c = 392
a +2c = 399
a = 399 -2c
To find c I use
Pythogorian formula but replace a and b with their equivalent of c
(399-2c)^2 + (c-7)^2 = c^2
Is it the right way to resolve the problem? if it is, why after 4-5 attempts I keep getting different values of c or sometimes no c at all :)
If it's the right way to go
is the (399-2c)^2 + (c-7)^2 = c^2 implies...
-4c^2 + 1596c + 159201 +c^2 - 14c + 49 = c^2 ? Just to make sure I'm not missing a minus.
Thank you:)