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605-655 Level|   Geometry|      
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ronr34
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In right triangle ABC, BC is the hypotenuse. If BC is 13 and 23 Nov 2013, 11:01
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C
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72% (02:16) correct 28% (02:46) wrong based on 617 sessions

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In right triangle ABC, BC is the hypotenuse. If BC is 13 and AB + AC = 15, what is the area of the triangle?

A. 2√7
B. 2√14
C. 14
D. 28
E. 56


I have a question regarding this.
If Bc is the hypotenuse, and the triangle is a right triangle,
that means that the other two side must be 5:12:13....
How can it be stated that the other sides sum to be 15?

Please explain.
thanks
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C
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Bunuel
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In right triangle ABC, BC is the hypotenuse. If BC is 13 and 23 Nov 2013, 11:13
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ronr34
In right triangle ABC, BC is the hypotenuse. If BC is 13 and AB + AC = 15, what is the area of the triangle?

A. 2√7
B. 2√14
C. 14
D. 28
E. 56


I have a question regarding this.
If Bc is the hypotenuse, and the triangle is a right triangle,
that means that the other two side must be 5:12:13....
How can it be stated that the other sides sum to be 15?

Please explain.
thanks
Show more

You assume with no ground for it that the lengths of the sides are integers. Knowing that hypotenuse equals to 13 DOES NOT mean that the sides of the right triangle necessarily must be in the ratio of Pythagorean triple - 5:12:13. Or in other words: if \(a^2+b^2=13^2\) DOES NOT mean that \(a=5\) and \(b=12\), certainly this is one of the possibilities but definitely not the only one. In fact \(a^2+b^2=13^2\) has infinitely many solutions for \(a\) and \(b\) and only one of them is \(a=5\) and \(b=12\).

For example: \(a=1\) and \(b=\sqrt{168}\) or \(a=2\) and \(b=\sqrt{165}\) ...

Hope it's clear.

BACK TO THE ORIGINAL QUESTION:
In right triangle ABC, BC is the hypotenuse. If BC is 13 and AB + AC = 15, what is the area of the triangle?
A. 2√7
B. 2√14
C. 14
D. 28
E. 56

Since ABC is a right triangle and BC is hypotenuse then the area is \(\frac{1}{2}*AB*AC\).

\(AB + AC = 15\) --> square it: \(AB^2 + 2*AB*AC + AC^2=225\).

Also, since BC is the hypotenuse, then \(AB^2 + AC^2=BC^2=169\).

Substitute the second equation in the first: \(169+ 2*AB*AC=225\) --> \(2*AB*AC=56\) --> \(AB*AC=28\).

The area = \(\frac{1}{2}*AB*AC=14\).

Answer: C.
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In right triangle ABC, BC is the hypotenuse. If BC is 13 and 03 Apr 2014, 03:30
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Attachment:
w.jpg
w.jpg [ 9.38 KiB | Viewed 64466 times ]

Hope you guys like this method:

Refer diagram & form the equations

We require to find area of right triangle

\(= \frac{1}{2} * x * (15-x)\)

\(= \frac{1}{2} * (15x - x^2)\) .................... (1)

Using Pythagoras theorem,

\(13^2 = x^2 + (15-x)^2\)

\(169 = x^2 + 225 - 30x + x^2\)

(IMPORTANT: Don't try to solve it; just re-arrange it per requirement)

\(30x - 2x^2 = 56\)

\(15x - x^2 = 28\)..................... (2)

Placing 28 obtained from equation (2) in equation (1)

Area of right triangle \(= \frac{1}{2} * 28\)

Answer = 14 = C
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HaseebR
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In right triangle ABC, BC is the hypotenuse. If BC is 13 and 23 Nov 2013, 11:22
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Area of the triangle is 1/2*B*H = 1/2*AB*AC

Squaring on Both Sides

(AB+AC)^2 = AB^2 + AC^2 + 2AB.AC = 225

AB^2+AC^2 is 13^2

So on solving the equation we get

2AB.AC=56

1/2AB.AC=14

EDIT : Oh damn Bunuel beat me to it
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In right triangle ABC, BC is the hypotenuse. If BC is 13 and 23 Nov 2013, 18:41
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Bunuel
ronr34
In right triangle ABC, BC is the hypotenuse. If BC is 13 and AB + AC = 15, what is the area of the triangle?

A. 2√7
B. 2√14
C. 14
D. 28
E. 56


I have a question regarding this.
If Bc is the hypotenuse, and the triangle is a right triangle,
that means that the other two side must be 5:12:13....
How can it be stated that the other sides sum to be 15?

Please explain.
thanks

You assume with no ground for it that the lengths of the sides are integers. Knowing that hypotenuse equals to 13 DOES NOT mean that the sides of the right triangle necessarily must be in the ratio of Pythagorean triple - 5:12:13. Or in other words: if \(a^2+b^2=13^2\) DOES NOT mean that \(a=5\) and \(b=12\), certainly this is one of the possibilities but definitely not the only one. In fact \(a^2+b^2=13^2\) has infinitely many solutions for \(a\) and \(b\) and only one of them is \(a=5\) and \(b=12\).

For example: \(a=1\) and \(b=\sqrt{168}\) or \(a=2\) and \(b=\sqrt{165}\) ...

Hope it's clear.

BACK TO THE ORIGINAL QUESTION:
In right triangle ABC, BC is the hypotenuse. If BC is 13 and AB + AC = 15, what is the area of the triangle?
A. 2√7
B. 2√14
C. 14
D. 28
E. 56

Since ABC is a right triangle and BC is hypotenuse then the area is \(\frac{1}{2}*AB*AC\).

\(AB + AC = 15\) --> square it: \(AB^2 + 2*AB*AC + AC^2=225\).

Also, since BC is the hypotenuse, then \(AB^2 + AC^2=BC^2=169\).

Substitute the second equation in the first: \(169+ 2*AB*AC=225\) --> \(2*AB*AC=56\) --> \(AB*AC=28\).

The area = \(\frac{1}{2}*AB*AC=14\).

Answer: C.
Show more


How the hell did you know to square that? I tried using the pythag theorem for A^2+B^2=13^2, and since A+B=15, since A=15-B, subbing that back into the pythag theorem. Ended up with b^2-15b+28...which only has ugly solutions.
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In right triangle ABC, BC is the hypotenuse. If BC is 13 and 23 Nov 2013, 22:49
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Just try to remember the relationship between area of a triangle with its sides involves The Pythagorean (or Pythagoras') Theorem a^2+b^2=c^2 and the equation (a+B)^2= a^2 + b^2 + 2ab---- in MGMAT series, they mention about this relationship too. GOOD LUCK
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In right triangle ABC, BC is the hypotenuse. If BC is 13 and 12 Dec 2013, 14:11
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Bunuel
ronr34
In right triangle ABC, BC is the hypotenuse. If BC is 13 and AB + AC = 15, what is the area of the triangle?

A. 2√7
B. 2√14
C. 14
D. 28
E. 56


I have a question regarding this.
If Bc is the hypotenuse, and the triangle is a right triangle,
that means that the other two side must be 5:12:13....
How can it be stated that the other sides sum to be 15?

Please explain.
thanks

You assume with no ground for it that the lengths of the sides are integers. Knowing that hypotenuse equals to 13 DOES NOT mean that the sides of the right triangle necessarily must be in the ratio of Pythagorean triple - 5:12:13. Or in other words: if \(a^2+b^2=13^2\) DOES NOT mean that \(a=5\) and \(b=12\), certainly this is one of the possibilities but definitely not the only one. In fact \(a^2+b^2=13^2\) has infinitely many solutions for \(a\) and \(b\) and only one of them is \(a=5\) and \(b=12\).

For example: \(a=1\) and \(b=\sqrt{168}\) or \(a=2\) and \(b=\sqrt{165}\) ...

Hope it's clear.

BACK TO THE ORIGINAL QUESTION:
In right triangle ABC, BC is the hypotenuse. If BC is 13 and AB + AC = 15, what is the area of the triangle?
A. 2√7
B. 2√14
C. 14
D. 28
E. 56

Since ABC is a right triangle and BC is hypotenuse then the area is \(\frac{1}{2}*AB*AC\).

\(AB + AC = 15\) --> square it: \(AB^2 + 2*AB*AC + AC^2=225\).

Also, since BC is the hypotenuse, then \(AB^2 + AC^2=BC^2=169\).

Substitute the second equation in the first: \(169+ 2*AB*AC=225\) --> \(2*AB*AC=56\) --> \(AB*AC=28\).

The area = \(\frac{1}{2}*AB*AC=14\).

Answer: C.
Show more

That is exactly what I did and it made sense right up to the last part.

We know that x+y = 15, we also know that x*y=28. There are only a few possibilities for what x and y could be:

x=1 y=28 (which we can rule out right off the bat)
x=2 y=14
x=4 y=7

None of which add up to 15. I see how you arrived at the answer: x*y (i.e. the base times the height) = 28 so you multiply by 1/2 to get the area of a triangle but shouldn't one of those sets of x, y also = 15?
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In right triangle ABC, BC is the hypotenuse. If BC is 13 and 13 Dec 2013, 02:57
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WholeLottaLove
Bunuel
ronr34
In right triangle ABC, BC is the hypotenuse. If BC is 13 and AB + AC = 15, what is the area of the triangle?

A. 2√7
B. 2√14
C. 14
D. 28
E. 56


I have a question regarding this.
If Bc is the hypotenuse, and the triangle is a right triangle,
that means that the other two side must be 5:12:13....
How can it be stated that the other sides sum to be 15?

Please explain.
thanks

You assume with no ground for it that the lengths of the sides are integers. Knowing that hypotenuse equals to 13 DOES NOT mean that the sides of the right triangle necessarily must be in the ratio of Pythagorean triple - 5:12:13. Or in other words: if \(a^2+b^2=13^2\) DOES NOT mean that \(a=5\) and \(b=12\), certainly this is one of the possibilities but definitely not the only one. In fact \(a^2+b^2=13^2\) has infinitely many solutions for \(a\) and \(b\) and only one of them is \(a=5\) and \(b=12\).

For example: \(a=1\) and \(b=\sqrt{168}\) or \(a=2\) and \(b=\sqrt{165}\) ...

Hope it's clear.

BACK TO THE ORIGINAL QUESTION:
In right triangle ABC, BC is the hypotenuse. If BC is 13 and AB + AC = 15, what is the area of the triangle?
A. 2√7
B. 2√14
C. 14
D. 28
E. 56

Since ABC is a right triangle and BC is hypotenuse then the area is \(\frac{1}{2}*AB*AC\).

\(AB + AC = 15\) --> square it: \(AB^2 + 2*AB*AC + AC^2=225\).

Also, since BC is the hypotenuse, then \(AB^2 + AC^2=BC^2=169\).

Substitute the second equation in the first: \(169+ 2*AB*AC=225\) --> \(2*AB*AC=56\) --> \(AB*AC=28\).

The area = \(\frac{1}{2}*AB*AC=14\).

Answer: C.

That is exactly what I did and it made sense right up to the last part.

We know that x+y = 15, we also know that x*y=28. There are only a few possibilities for what x and y could be:

x=1 y=28 (which we can rule out right off the bat)
x=2 y=14
x=4 y=7

None of which add up to 15. I see how you arrived at the answer: x*y (i.e. the base times the height) = 28 so you multiply by 1/2 to get the area of a triangle but shouldn't one of those sets of x, y also = 15?
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Why do you assume that the lengths of the sides are integers?
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In right triangle ABC, BC is the hypotenuse. If BC is 13 and 13 Dec 2013, 06:19
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That's a good point - all that is relevant is that it is a right angle and we know that the two leg lengths, whatever they are individually, multiply to 14.
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In right triangle ABC, BC is the hypotenuse. If BC is 13 and 13 Dec 2013, 10:30
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WholeLottaLove
That's a good point - all that is relevant is that it is a right angle and we know that the two leg lengths, whatever they are individually, multiply to 14.
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Also if you want to go from : We know that x+y = 15, we also know that \(x*y=28\)--->>>
\(y=28/x\)
\(x+28/x= 15\)
\(x^2-15x+28=0\)
\(x1= (15+\sqrt{113} )/2\) or
\(x2=(15-\sqrt{113} )/2\)
So\(Y1=(15-\sqrt{113} )/2\)
\(Y2=(15-\sqrt{113} )/2\)

--NOTICE that the results is not integers or multiply to 14 or st
So X1, Y1 and X2, Y2 just switch with each other so it's very reasonable coz' no assumption of which one is greater.
And \(X1.Y1/2=X2.Y2/2= 28/2=14\).

Hope it help!!
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In right triangle ABC, BC is the hypotenuse. If BC is 13 and 31 Mar 2014, 22:33
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AccipiterQ
dreambig1990
Just try to remember the relationship between area of a triangle with its sides involves The Pythagorean (or Pythagoras') Theorem a^2+b^2=c^2 and the equation (a+B)^2= a^2 + b^2 + 2ab---- in MGMAT series, they mention about this relationship too. GOOD LUCK

ah ok, thanks! I appreciate it
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Would make 1 small note to "remember the relationship between the area of a RIGHT triangle with its sides involves the PT a^2+b^2=c^2 and the equation (a+b)^2=a^2+b^2" ... this relationship won't help you much in problems involving non-right triangles
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In right triangle ABC, BC is the hypotenuse. If BC is 13 and 24 Oct 2015, 02:02
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x^2+ (15-x)^2=13^2
x^2-15x+28=13^2
product of two roots, AB.AC=28
Area=14
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In right triangle ABC, BC is the hypotenuse. If BC is 13 and 31 Oct 2015, 19:13
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GUYS YOU DO NOT NEED TO SOLVE FOR THE SIDE LENGTHS OF THE TRIANGLE!!!

The first reply illustrated this perfectly.

All right, so let the two legs be "a" and "b". The area is ab/2. We also know that a^2+b^2=13^2, or 169.

Since a + b = 15, you can square this equation and it will stay the same: a^2+b^2+2ab = 225 (this is called "FOIL")

a^2+b^2 is known to be 169, so substitute that in to get 169+2ab=225, so 2ab=56.

We want ab/2. Divide 2ab=56 by 4 on both sides to get ab/2 = 14, which is the answer. Pick C.
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In right triangle ABC, BC is the hypotenuse. If BC is 13 and 10 Mar 2017, 13:19
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I don't understand how 169 gets plugged in as (AB)^2? Help pls
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In right triangle ABC, BC is the hypotenuse. If BC is 13 and 11 Mar 2017, 23:45
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Ok this problem is beginning to become more clear- but kudos if someone can explain further how we knew/ why to square AB + BC
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In right triangle ABC, BC is the hypotenuse. If BC is 13 and 15 Apr 2017, 17:59
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Bunuel
ronr34
In right triangle ABC, BC is the hypotenuse. If BC is 13 and AB + AC = 15, what is the area of the triangle?

A. 2√7
B. 2√14
C. 14
D. 28
E. 56


I have a question regarding this.
If Bc is the hypotenuse, and the triangle is a right triangle,
that means that the other two side must be 5:12:13....
How can it be stated that the other sides sum to be 15?

Please explain.
thanks

You assume with no ground for it that the lengths of the sides are integers. Knowing that hypotenuse equals to 13 DOES NOT mean that the sides of the right triangle necessarily must be in the ratio of Pythagorean triple - 5:12:13. Or in other words: if \(a^2+b^2=13^2\) DOES NOT mean that \(a=5\) and \(b=12\), certainly this is one of the possibilities but definitely not the only one. In fact \(a^2+b^2=13^2\) has infinitely many solutions for \(a\) and \(b\) and only one of them is \(a=5\) and \(b=12\).

For example: \(a=1\) and \(b=\sqrt{168}\) or \(a=2\) and \(b=\sqrt{165}\) ...

Hope it's clear.

BACK TO THE ORIGINAL QUESTION:
In right triangle ABC, BC is the hypotenuse. If BC is 13 and AB + AC = 15, what is the area of the triangle?
A. 2√7
B. 2√14
C. 14
D. 28
E. 56

Since ABC is a right triangle and BC is hypotenuse then the area is \(\frac{1}{2}*AB*AC\).

\(AB + AC = 15\) --> square it: \(AB^2 + 2*AB*AC + AC^2=225\).

Also, since BC is the hypotenuse, then \(AB^2 + AC^2=BC^2=169\).

Substitute the second equation in the first: \(169+ 2*AB*AC=225\) --> \(2*AB*AC=56\) --> \(AB*AC=28\).

The area = \(\frac{1}{2}*AB*AC=14\).

Answer: C.
Show more

I think the difficulty in this question lies in the fact that you cannot use the Pythagorean Theorem to solve for sides AB and BA, or alternatively the individual values of X and Y. The objective of this question, as posted, is to solve for the product of X and Y. It isn't necessary to know the individual values of X and Y in order to solve the question- the area of right triangle is

Area = (1/2) Base * H

Yet in this problem the product of sides AB and BA, or again X and Y, can be substituted for (Base * Height).

The only thing I'd like to know about this problem is, well, what are the values of sides AB and BA? The factors of 28 are 1, 2, 4 , 7 , 14, and 28
28, 14, 2 and 1 are out because 28 and 14 are larger numbers then the hypotenuse- though
7^2 + 4^2 does not equal 13^2?
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In right triangle ABC, BC is the hypotenuse. If BC is 13 and 16 Apr 2017, 01:18
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Bunuel
ronr34
In right triangle ABC, BC is the hypotenuse. If BC is 13 and AB + AC = 15, what is the area of the triangle?

A. 2√7
B. 2√14
C. 14
D. 28
E. 56


I have a question regarding this.
If Bc is the hypotenuse, and the triangle is a right triangle,
that means that the other two side must be 5:12:13....
How can it be stated that the other sides sum to be 15?

Please explain.
thanks

You assume with no ground for it that the lengths of the sides are integers. Knowing that hypotenuse equals to 13 DOES NOT mean that the sides of the right triangle necessarily must be in the ratio of Pythagorean triple - 5:12:13. Or in other words: if \(a^2+b^2=13^2\) DOES NOT mean that \(a=5\) and \(b=12\), certainly this is one of the possibilities but definitely not the only one. In fact \(a^2+b^2=13^2\) has infinitely many solutions for \(a\) and \(b\) and only one of them is \(a=5\) and \(b=12\).

For example: \(a=1\) and \(b=\sqrt{168}\) or \(a=2\) and \(b=\sqrt{165}\) ...

Hope it's clear.

BACK TO THE ORIGINAL QUESTION:
In right triangle ABC, BC is the hypotenuse. If BC is 13 and AB + AC = 15, what is the area of the triangle?
A. 2√7
B. 2√14
C. 14
D. 28
E. 56

Since ABC is a right triangle and BC is hypotenuse then the area is \(\frac{1}{2}*AB*AC\).

\(AB + AC = 15\) --> square it: \(AB^2 + 2*AB*AC + AC^2=225\).

Also, since BC is the hypotenuse, then \(AB^2 + AC^2=BC^2=169\).

Substitute the second equation in the first: \(169+ 2*AB*AC=225\) --> \(2*AB*AC=56\) --> \(AB*AC=28\).

The area = \(\frac{1}{2}*AB*AC=14\).

Answer: C.

I think the difficulty in this question lies in the fact that you cannot use the Pythagorean Theorem to solve for sides AB and BA, or alternatively the individual values of X and Y. The objective of this question, as posted, is to solve for the product of X and Y. It isn't necessary to know the individual values of X and Y in order to solve the question- the area of right triangle is

Area = (1/2) Base * H

Yet in this problem the product of sides AB and BA, or again X and Y, can be substituted for (Base * Height).

The only thing I'd like to know about this problem is, well, what are the values of sides AB and BA? The factors of 28 are 1, 2, 4 , 7 , 14, and 28
28, 14, 2 and 1 are out because 28 and 14 are larger numbers then the hypotenuse- though
7^2 + 4^2 does not equal 13^2?
Show more

Why do you assume that AB and AC must be integers? If you solve \(AB + AC = 15\) and \(AB^2 + AC^2=169\) you'll get that \(AB=\frac{15}{2} - \frac{\sqrt{113}}{2}\) and \(AC=\frac{15}{2} + \frac{\sqrt{113}}{2}\) or vise-versa.
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In right triangle ABC, BC is the hypotenuse. If BC is 13 and 16 Apr 2017, 01:23
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Nunuboy1994
Bunuel
ronr34
In right triangle ABC, BC is the hypotenuse. If BC is 13 and AB + AC = 15, what is the area of the triangle?

A. 2√7
B. 2√14
C. 14
D. 28
E. 56


I have a question regarding this.
If Bc is the hypotenuse, and the triangle is a right triangle,
that means that the other two side must be 5:12:13....
How can it be stated that the other sides sum to be 15?

Please explain.
thanks

You assume with no ground for it that the lengths of the sides are integers. Knowing that hypotenuse equals to 13 DOES NOT mean that the sides of the right triangle necessarily must be in the ratio of Pythagorean triple - 5:12:13. Or in other words: if \(a^2+b^2=13^2\) DOES NOT mean that \(a=5\) and \(b=12\), certainly this is one of the possibilities but definitely not the only one. In fact \(a^2+b^2=13^2\) has infinitely many solutions for \(a\) and \(b\) and only one of them is \(a=5\) and \(b=12\).

For example: \(a=1\) and \(b=\sqrt{168}\) or \(a=2\) and \(b=\sqrt{165}\) ...

Hope it's clear.

BACK TO THE ORIGINAL QUESTION:
In right triangle ABC, BC is the hypotenuse. If BC is 13 and AB + AC = 15, what is the area of the triangle?
A. 2√7
B. 2√14
C. 14
D. 28
E. 56

Since ABC is a right triangle and BC is hypotenuse then the area is \(\frac{1}{2}*AB*AC\).

\(AB + AC = 15\) --> square it: \(AB^2 + 2*AB*AC + AC^2=225\).

Also, since BC is the hypotenuse, then \(AB^2 + AC^2=BC^2=169\).

Substitute the second equation in the first: \(169+ 2*AB*AC=225\) --> \(2*AB*AC=56\) --> \(AB*AC=28\).

The area = \(\frac{1}{2}*AB*AC=14\).

Answer: C.

I think the difficulty in this question lies in the fact that you cannot use the Pythagorean Theorem to solve for sides AB and BA, or alternatively the individual values of X and Y. The objective of this question, as posted, is to solve for the product of X and Y. It isn't necessary to know the individual values of X and Y in order to solve the question- the area of right triangle is

Area = (1/2) Base * H

Yet in this problem the product of sides AB and BA, or again X and Y, can be substituted for (Base * Height).

The only thing I'd like to know about this problem is, well, what are the values of sides AB and BA? The factors of 28 are 1, 2, 4 , 7 , 14, and 28
28, 14, 2 and 1 are out because 28 and 14 are larger numbers then the hypotenuse- though
7^2 + 4^2 does not equal 13^2?
Show more

By the way your doubt is already addressed in the very first paragraph of the very post you are quoting as well as in several other posts in this thread.
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In right triangle ABC, BC is the hypotenuse. If BC is 13 and 06 Jan 2022, 01:16
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area of triangle = (a+b+c) * r / 2
where , r is in-radii, c is hypotenuse

for a right triangle inradii = (a+b-c)/2 ( good formula to remember but only for right triangle)

so area of triangle is
= (a+b+c)(a+b-c)/4
= (15+13)(15-13)/4
= 28 * 2 / 4
= 14


another good formula to remember
area of triangle = (a*b*c)/(4R) here R is circumradii

if it is a right triangle R = c /2 , c is hypotenuse
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In right triangle ABC, BC is the hypotenuse. If BC is 13 and 08 Mar 2023, 06:24
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