SOLUTION: The hypotenuse of a right triangle is 60 cm. If one leg is five centimeters longer than the other leg, what is the length of the legs?

Question 89203: The hypotenuse of a right triangle is 60 cm. If one leg is five centimeters longer than the other leg, what is the length of the legs?
Answer by Nate(3500) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Smaller Leg: x
Longer Leg: x + 5
a^2 + b^2 = c^2
x^2 + x^2 + 10x + 25 = 3600
2x^2 + 10x = 3575
x^2 + 5x = 1787.5
(x + 2.5)^2 = 1793.75
x = -2.5 +- sqrt(1793.75)
A length can not be expressed as a negative length:
Smaller Leg: -2.5 + sqrt(1793.75)
Longer Leg: 2.5 + sqrt(1793.75)
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