SOLUTION: The shorter leg of a right triangle is 9 inches shorter than the longer leg. The hypotenuse is 9 inches longer than the longer leg. Find the side lengths of the triangle.

Question 1030700: The shorter leg of a right triangle is 9 inches shorter than the longer leg. The hypotenuse is 9 inches longer than the longer leg. Find the side lengths of the triangle.
Answer by Cromlix(4381) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Hi there,
Make longer leg = x
Shorter leg = x - 9
Hypotenuse = x + 9
By Pythagoras' Theorem
x^2 + (x - 9)^2 = (x + 9)^2
x^2 + x^2 - 18x + 81 = x^2 + 18x + 81
x^2 - 36x + 0
x(x - 36)
x - 36 = 0
x = 36 inches
Longer leg = 36 inches
Shorter leg = 27 inches
Hypotenuse = 45 inches
Hope this helps :-)
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