The hypotenuse of a right triangle is 13 inches long. The shorter leg is 7 inches shorter than the longer leg. Find the side lengths of the triangle.

Question

Length of the shorter leg:

Length of the longer leg:

Length of the hypotenuse:

Answer 1

7-12-13 triangle 49+144+ 169. hypotenuse = square root of the sum of squares of the other sides

shorter leg: 7

longer" 12

hypotenuse: 13

L=7+S

L^2 + S^2 = 13^2

(S+7)^2 + S^2 = 169

S^2 +14S + 49 +S^2 = 169

2S^2 +14S -120 = 0

S^2 + 7S -60 =0

(S+12)(S-5) = 0

S-5=0

S = 5 inches

L=5+7 = 12 inches