SOLUTION: I need help in setting up an equation. The problem says the longer leg of a right triangle is 3 cm less than 5 times the shorter leg. The hypotenuse is 3 cm longer than the short

Question 689216: I need help in setting up an equation. The problem says the longer leg of a right triangle is 3 cm less than 5 times the shorter leg. The hypotenuse is 3 cm longer than the shorter leg. Find the length of the shorter leg. a^2 + b^2 = c^2 or in this case b^2 + (5b - 3)^2 = (5b + 3)^2. I am having problems once I get the equation to 26b^2 - 30B +9 = 25b^2 + 30B +9. Can someone help me from that point or tell me where I went wrong in setting the problem up?
Answer by KMST(5328) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
If "the longer leg of a right triangle is 3 cm less than 5 times the shorter leg,"
you are correct in translating
into , calling the shorter leg .

However, if the problem says exactly that the "hypotenuse is 3 cm longer than the shorter leg," it should be
instead of
.
Then,
--> --> -->
and as makes no triangle, it must be
cm, or, if you prefer cm.

You made the hypotenuse 3 cm longer than 5 times the shorter leg in
.
If that was really what the problem stated, then
--> -->
and the solution would be cm.
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