SOLUTION: The shortest leg of a triangle is 7 centimeters shorter than the other leg. The hypotenuse of this triangle is 13 centimeters. What are the lengths of the two legs of this triangle

Algebra.Com
Question 1056237: The shortest leg of a triangle is 7 centimeters shorter than the other leg. The hypotenuse of this triangle is 13 centimeters. What are the lengths of the two legs of this triangle?
the shortest leg is ____________ centimeters long
the other leg is ___________ centimeters long
Answer by Edwin McCravy(20056)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!

`
The shortest leg of a triangle is 7 centimeters shorter
than the other leg










a-12 = 0;   a+5 = 0
   a = 12;    a = -5

Discard the negative answer.

Since b=a-7,
      b=12-7,
      b=5 



Edwin
RELATED QUESTIONS

The shortest leg of a triangle is 7 inches shorter than the other leg. The hypotenuse of... (answered by Tatiana_Stebko)
The shortest leg of a triangle is 7 inches shorter than the other leg. The hypotenuse of... (answered by ikleyn)
The shortest leg of a triangle is 17 centimeters shorter than the other leg. The... (answered by ikleyn)
One leg of a right triangle is 7cm shorter than the other leg. How long should be the... (answered by Cromlix)
The shortest leg of a triangle is 7 feet shorter than the other leg. The hypotenuse of... (answered by josgarithmetic)
The shortest leg of a triangle is 17 inches shorter than the other leg. The hypotenuse of (answered by Fombitz)
One leg of a right triangle is 9 centimeters longer than the other leg the hypotenuse is... (answered by friesr)
The hypotenuse of a right triangle is 4 cm longer than three times the length of the... (answered by flame8855)
one leg of a triangle is 1 centimeter shorter than the other leg and the hypotenuse is 2... (answered by mananth)