SOLUTION: The length of the Hypotenuse of a right triangle is 25cm. One leg is 5cm longer than the other. Find the length of each leg.

Question 266243: The length of the Hypotenuse of a right triangle is 25cm. One leg is 5cm longer than the other. Find the length of each leg.
Answer by unlockmath(1688) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Hello,
Let's have x be one leg and the other be x+5. Now we can use this formula to solve it. A^2 +B^2= C^2
C will be 25 cm
A will be x
B will be x+5
x^2 + (x+5)^2 = 25^2 This can be rewritten as:
x^2 +x^2+10x+25=625 Combine like terms and subtract 625 from both sides:
2x^2+10x-600=0 This can be rewritten as:
2(x^2+5x-300)=0 This can be factored as:
2(x+20)(x-15)=0 Now we solve x to get:
x=-20
x=15 We know -20 doesn't work so 15 is the answer. The lengths are
15cm
20cm
25cm
RJ
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