document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=178014>Question 178014</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Is it possible for a leg of a right triangle to be longer than its hypotenuse? If it is, when does this occur? IF it is not, why not? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #132990 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=stanbon><B>stanbon(75887)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=stanbon><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/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=132990\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Is it possible for a leg of a right triangle to be longer than its hypotenuse? If it is, when does this occur? IF it is not, why not?<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Impossible.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Assume leg b is greater than hypotenuse c.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Pythagoras says c^2 = a^2 + b^2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Therefore a^2 = c^2 - b^2<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "But if b > c then b^2 > c^2, and a^2 would be negative.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "If a is a Real Number a^2 cannot be negative.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Therefore both a < c and b < c<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Cheers,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Stan H. </SPAN>\n" );
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