Triangle Word Problem

[leapfrog]

Hi,

I'm struggling to just get started on this one word problem:

One leg of a right triangle is 20 cm. Let h be the length of the hypotenuse and let p be the perimeter of the triangle. Express h as a function of p.

I have no clue on how to set the problem up, and it's driving me crazy. h can't be in the function, by the way.

 

[Bob Brown MSEE]

Let x = unknown leg

^{p = h + x + 20 so x = p-h-20
plug x into}

h² = x² + 20<sup>2

and solve for h</sup>

 

[sagat201]

I actually have to do the same problem for homework too! You know p = h + x + 20 and x = p - (h + 20)

You should end up w/ h^2 = 800 + p^2 - 2ph + h^2 - 40p + 40h

It should be easy enough to find h now, good luck!