SOLUTION: The hypotenuse of a right triangle is 39 ft long. The length of one leg is 21 ft more than the other. Find the lengths of the legs.

Question 974850: The hypotenuse of a right triangle is 39 ft long. The length of one leg is 21 ft more than the other. Find the lengths of the legs.
Found 2 solutions by Boreal, rfer:
Answer by Boreal(15235) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
c^2=a^2+b^2
39^2=x^2+ (x+21)^2
1521=x^2+ x^2+42x +441
2x^2+42x-1080=0
x^2+21x-540=0

=(1/2) [-21 +/- sqrt (441+2160) ] sqrt (2601)=51 ;;; or (x+36) (x-15)=0
negative root doesn't make sense
x=(1/2) (-21+51)
x=15
x+21=36
14.5^2=225
35.5^2=1296
They add to 1521

Answer by rfer(16322) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
b^2=39^2-21^2
b^2=1080
b=32.86 or 33 if rounded
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