Monday, February 21, 2011

The Sum of Its Parts

This is a famous problem.

One says that 10 is divided into three parts and if the small part is multiplied by itself and added to the middle one multiplied by itself the result is the large one multiplied by itself, and when the small part is multiplied by the large part, it equals the middle part multiplied by itself. Find the parts.





Statement #1: 10 is divided into three parts

Giving .................................... x + y + z = 10

Statement #2: if the small part is multiplied by itself and added to the middle one multiplied by itself the result is the large one multiplied by itself

Giving ..................................... x^2 + y^2 = z^2

Statement #3: when the small part is multiplied by the large part, it equals the middle part multiplied by itself

Giving ..................................... x * y = z^2

Hint: The answer is: x = 2.57066; y = 3.26993; z = 4.15941



Show how you can find these results.

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