SOLUTION: In an isosceles right triangle, the legs are 3 inches smaller than the hypotenuse. If the perimeter is 16 inches, how long are the legs of the triangle?

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Question 898895: In an isosceles right triangle, the legs are 3 inches smaller than the hypotenuse. If the perimeter is 16 inches, how long are the legs of the triangle?
Found 2 solutions by josgarithmetic, MathTherapy:
Answer by josgarithmetic(39617)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
x for leg
h for hypotenuse
, if the description about this is understood correctly.

Expect because of right, isosceles, that applying Pythagorean Theorem.
.

Perimeter is given, 16.



A system of two equations is now possible.
.



substitute into the Pythagorean simplified equation;










Use the perimeter fact to find h, the hypotenuse.






Is h-x=3?



-----That part of the problem description is WRONG.
Answer by MathTherapy(10552)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
In an isosceles right triangle, the legs are 3 inches smaller than the hypotenuse. If the perimeter is 16 inches, how long are the legs of the triangle?


Let measure of each leg, be L

Then total length of two legs = 2L

Since perimeter = 16, then hypotenuse = 16 – 2L

As this is a right-triangle, we get: 







 ------ Factoring out GCF, 2



Using the quadratic equation, L = 27.3137085 (ignore), OR

L, or measure of each leg is:  inches

Are you certain you copied this problem correctly? There doesn't seem to be a measurement for each leg

that will is 3 inches less than the hypotenuse.

You can do the check!! 



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