What kind of equation could I use to solve this/how do I solve this:

If the same length is cut off three pieces of wood measuring 21cm, 42cm, and 45cm, the three pieces of wood can be assembled into a right triangle. What length needs to be cut off each piece?

Question

Laci Hogan

Mathematics

4 February, 04:14

What kind of equation could I use to solve this/how do I solve this:

If the same length is cut off three pieces of wood measuring 21cm, 42cm, and 45cm, the three pieces of wood can be assembled into a right triangle. What length needs to be cut off each piece?

+1

Answers (1)

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Rigoberto Boyle · Answer 1

Suppose the length needed to cut off as x

set quadratic equations and use the pythagorean identity (21-x) ^2 + (42-X) ^2 = (45-x) ^2

expand and distribute both sides to get quadratic equation x^2-36x+180=0, and find x to be 6cm

What kind of equation could I use to solve this/how do I solve this:If the same length is cut off three pieces of wood measuring 21cm, 42cm, and 45cm, the three pieces of wood can be assembled into a right triangle. What length needs to be cut off each piece?

What kind of equation could I use to solve this/how do I solve this:

If the same length is cut off three pieces of wood measuring 21cm, 42cm, and 45cm, the three pieces of wood can be assembled into a right triangle. What length needs to be cut off each piece?