SOLUTION: the hypotneuse of a right triangle is 2.9 inches long.the longer leg is 1.7 units longer than the shorter leg. what is the length of the side of the triangle?

Question 171640: the hypotneuse of a right triangle is 2.9 inches long.the longer leg is 1.7 units longer than the shorter leg. what is the length of the side of the triangle?
Answer by stanbon(75887) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
the hypotneuse of a right triangle is 2.9 inches long.the longer leg is 1.7 units longer than the shorter leg. what is the length of the side of the triangle?
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Let shorter leg be x inches long
then 2nd leg is "x+1.7" inches long.
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EQUATION:
2.9^2 = x^2 + (x+1.7)^2
8.41 = x^2 + x^2 + 3.4x + 2.89
2x^2 + 3.4x - 5.52 = 0
x^2 + 1.7x - 2.76 = 0
x = [-1.7 +- sqrt(1.7^2 - 4*-2.76)]/2
x = [-1.7 +- sqrt(13.93)]/2
x = [-1.7 +- 3.7323]/2
Positive solution:
x = 1.01615000
Cheers,
Stan H.
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