Question

The hypotenuse of a right triangle is 20cm .If the difference between other two sides is 4cm .Find the length of each side​

Answer 1

Let first side be x

And second be x -4

Hypotenuse is 20cm

By pythagoras theorem,

20² = x² + (x-4)²

400 = x² +x²+16-8x

2x² - 8x - 384 = 0

(divide all by 2)

x² - 4x - 192 = 0

x² +12x - 16x -192 = 0

x(x+12)-16(x+12)=0

x = -12 , x = 16

Since x cannot be negative

x = 16

1st side = x = 16cm

2nd side = x-4 = 16-4 = 12cm