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Question from john, a student:

a right triangle has hypotenuse which measures 20cm and a perimeter 47cm. find the measure of the remaining two sides

Hi John,

Suppose the two remaining sides have lengths x cm and y cm. Since the perimeter is 47 cm you know that x + y = 47 - 20 = 27 cm or y = 27 - x cm.

The triangle is a right triangle and hence you can apply Pythagoras theorem to it. This gives you a second equation in x and y. Substitute y = 27 - x and solve for x.

Harley

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