The length of one leg of a right triangle is one meter less than twice the length of the second leg. The hypotenuse is 17 m. Find the lengths of the two legs.

Question

Find the length of the two legs. 

Answer 1

 

x^2 + (2x-1)^2 = 289

 

x^2 + 4x^2 - 4x + 1 = 289

 

5x^2 - 4x - 288 = 0

 

(  5x   +  36   )( x - 8   ) = 0

 

5x+36 = 0  results in negative measures

 

x-8=0 --> x = 8

 

The legs are 8 and 15.