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    dianeavril's Avatar
    dianeavril Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Mar 19, 2012, 11:17 AM
    A right angle triangle has sides x-1, 12 and hypothenuse x + 8. Find the value of x
    Do I use the quadratic formula?
    ebaines's Avatar
    ebaines Posts: 12,131, Reputation: 1307
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    #2

    Mar 19, 2012, 11:26 AM
    Not quite. Use the Pythagorean theorem to set up the equation



    Simplify this and you'll see you can solve for x without using the quadratic equation, since the x^2 terms cancel out.
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