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We have a right triangle with sides a, b, c=hypotenuse. a=2x b=x c=10 I need to find the area for the triangle.
Now its been a few (10) years since I have worked much with geometry, but if I can remember right I would start using pythagorean theorem and solve for x. Then use that number to find the area of the triangle. A=1/2(b*h). Now the area is supposed to be 20. I however can not seem to solve this and come up with the correct answer for x. Any help? maybe Im looking too much into this
well we need to find what x is first so we can determine the side lengths, and then find the area.
By the pythagorean theorem we have that a^2 + b^2 = c^2 so (2x)^2 + x^2 = 10^2 this gives us
5x^2 = 100 so x^2 = 20 and x = sqrt(20) which is the same as 2*sqrt(5). The formula for area of a triangle is base times height divided by 2. Or a*b/2. So we have area = 4sqrt(5)*2sqrt(5)/2 = 4*sqrt(5)*sqrt(5) = 4*5 = 20.
A logarithm is just a misspelled algorithm.
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a = x
b = 2x
c = 10
EDIT:
AHHH, mikau beat me.
Last edited by bossk171 (2007-08-23 06:24:40)
There are 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary, those who don't, and those who can use induction.
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hehehe! want to race again? toss another problem at us, nate!
A logarithm is just a misspelled algorithm.
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I was forgetting to square the 2 in 2x...
but thats what happens when you learn geometry over tens years ago and have to relearn it in 30 days
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