Homework Help: MATH

Posted by jennifer on Monday, September 22, 2008 at 9:06am.

boating
The inclined ramp of a boat launch is 8 meters longer than the rise of the ramp.
The run is 7 meters longer than the rise. How long are the three sides of the ramp?

let the the rise be x m
then the run is x+7 m , and the ramp (the hypotenuse) is x+8 m
then
x^2 + (x+7)^2 = (x+8)^2
expand and simplify to
x^2 - 2x - 15=0
x^2 - 2x - 15=0
(x-5)(x+3)=0
x = 5 or x =-3
clearly x has to be positive

so the height of the ramp is 5,

would the other sides be
13m and 12m?

MATH - bobpursley, Monday, September 22, 2008 at 9:29am
correct.
MATH - jennifer, Monday, September 22, 2008 at 9:53am
thank you

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