Problema Solution

The area of a field shaped like a right triangle is 600 square yards. The ,legs of the field are fenced with steel costing $10/m, while the hypotenuse is fenced with aluminum at $20/m. The perimeter of the field is 120m. The total cost of then fencing is $1700. Give the lengths of the three sides of the field.

Answer provided by our tutors

area of a triangle = (1/2)b*h where 'b' and 'h' are legs of the triangle expressed in meters


we express the area in square meters:

600yd^2 * 9ft^2/yd^2 * ft^2 * 0.092903m^2/ft^2 = 501.6762m^2


let 'c' represent the hypotenuse of the triangle in meters and we have these equations:

perimeter: 120 = b + h + c

area: 501.6762 = (1/2)bh

cost: 1700 = 10(b+h) + 20c


solving this system:

120 = b + h + c

501.6762 = (1/2)bh

1700 = 10(b+h) + 20c


we have c = 50, b = 20.1 and h = 49.88

or c = 50, b = 49.88 and h = 20.1 since it is not specified which leg is longer


the three sides of the field measure approximately 20, 50 and 50 meters