Problema Solution

The longest side of a right triangle is 4 less than 3 times the shortest side. The third side measures 24 inches. Find the length of the shortest side.

Answer provided by our tutors

let 'x' represent the shortest side, then '3x-4' represents the longest side


for a right triangle, we have:

(3x-4)^2 = x^2 + 24^2

solving for 'x' we have a positive value x=10


3*10-4 = 26


the sides of the triangle are 10, 24 and 26