Type the correct answer in the box.

A printer creates a right triangular card where the hypotenuse, [tex]\( h \)[/tex], is three times as long as the shorter leg. What is the length of the longer leg, [tex]\( l \)[/tex], in terms of [tex]\( h \)[/tex]? Write the answer in simplest form by replacing [tex]\( a \)[/tex], [tex]\( b \)[/tex], and [tex]\( c \)[/tex] with the correct values.

[tex]\[ l = \frac{a \sqrt{b} h}{c} \][/tex]



Answer :

To determine the length of the longer leg [tex]\( I \)[/tex] in terms of the hypotenuse [tex]\( h \)[/tex], follow these steps:

1. Understand the problem: We know the hypotenuse ([tex]\( h \)[/tex]) is three times the shorter leg. Let’s denote the shorter leg as [tex]\( a \)[/tex].

2. Relation between hypotenuse and shorter leg: Given that [tex]\( h = 3a \)[/tex].

3. Apply the Pythagorean theorem: According to the theorem, for a right triangle:
[tex]\[ h^2 = a^2 + l^2 \][/tex]
where [tex]\( l \)[/tex] is the longer leg.

4. Substitute the hypotenuse:
[tex]\[ (3a)^2 = a^2 + l^2 \][/tex]
which simplifies to:
[tex]\[ 9a^2 = a^2 + l^2 \][/tex]

5. Solve for [tex]\( l^2 \)[/tex]:
[tex]\[ l^2 = 9a^2 - a^2 = 8a^2 \][/tex]

6. Express [tex]\( l \)[/tex] in terms of [tex]\( a \)[/tex]:
[tex]\[ l = \sqrt{8a^2} = \sqrt{8} \cdot a = 2\sqrt{2} \cdot a \][/tex]

7. Substitute [tex]\( a \)[/tex] in terms of [tex]\( h \)[/tex]: Since [tex]\( a = \frac{h}{3} \)[/tex], substitute this into the expression for [tex]\( l \)[/tex]:
[tex]\[ l = 2\sqrt{2} \cdot \frac{h}{3} \][/tex]

8. Simplify the expression:
[tex]\[ l = \frac{2\sqrt{2} \cdot h}{3} \][/tex]

Thus, the length of the longer leg [tex]\( I \)[/tex] can be written as:
[tex]\[ I = \frac{2\sqrt{2}h}{3} \][/tex]

In the format [tex]\( I = \frac{a \sqrt{b} h}{c} \)[/tex], the values are:

[tex]\[ a = 2, \quad b = 2, \quad c = 3 \][/tex]

So the final answer is:
[tex]\[ I = \frac{2 \sqrt{2} h}{3} \][/tex]

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