document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=144667>Question 144667</A>This question is from textbook <A HREF=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0132319284/algebrahomeworkh>Prealgebra & Introductory Algebra</A><BR>\n" );
document.write( ": <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> The sum of the legs of a right triangle is 17 in. The longer leg is 2 more than twice the shorter. Th hypotenuse is 13 in. Find the length of each leg. Isn't the formula for a right triangle a^2 +b^2=c^2? From what I understand this is the way I would write to solve, but it doesn't make sense to me.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "17=a^2+b^2+2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "a^2+b^2= 13^2\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Thanks for your help. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #105434 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=ankor@dixie-net.com><B>ankor@dixie-net.com(22740)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=ankor@dixie-net.com><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=ankor@dixie-net.com><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=105434\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> The sum of the legs of a right triangle is 17 in. The longer leg is 2 more than twice the shorter. The hypotenuse is 13 in. Find the length of each leg. <BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Isn't the formula for a right triangle a^2 +b^2 = c^2?  Yes it is, but we don't need it here.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "It says,\"The hypotenuse is 13 in.\" therefore<BR>\n" );
document.write( "c = 13<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Let a = shorter leg<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "then it says,\"The longer leg is 2 more than twice the shorter.\"therefore<BR>\n" );
document.write( "b = 2a+2<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "\"the sum of the legs of a right triangle is 17\":<BR>\n" );
document.write( "a + b = 17<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Substitute (2a+2) for b and 13 for c, find a:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "a + (2a+2) = 17<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "3a + 2 = 17<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "3a = 17 - 2<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "3a = 15<BR>\n" );
document.write( "a = <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=15%2F3 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"15%2F3\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "a = 5<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Find the longer leg (b):<BR>\n" );
document.write( "b = 2(5) + 2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "b = 12<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "We can confirm our solution using the pythag<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Does 5^2 + 12^2 = 13^2? <BR>\n" );
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