document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=181935>Question 181935</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> the length of one leg of a right triangle is 7 meters less than the length of the other leg. the length of the hypotenuse is 13 meters. find the lengths of the legs. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #136555 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=jim_thompson5910><B>jim_thompson5910(35256)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=jim_thompson5910><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=136555\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "We basically have this triangle set up:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=drawing%28500%2C500%2C-0.5%2C2%2C-0.5%2C3.2%2C%0D%0Aline%280%2C0%2C0%2C3%29%2C%0D%0Aline%280%2C3%2C2%2C0%29%2C%0D%0Aline%282%2C0%2C0%2C0%29%2C%0D%0Alocate%28-0.2%2C1.5%2Cx%29%2C%0D%0Alocate%281%2C-0.2%2Cx-7%29%2C%0D%0Alocate%281%2C2%2C13%29%0D%0A%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Since the legs are <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > and <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x-7 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x-7\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > this means that <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=a=x ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"a=x\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > and <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=b=x-7 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"b=x-7\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Also, since the hypotenuse is <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=13 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"13\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, this means that <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=c=13 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"c=13\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=a%5E2%2Bb%5E2=c%5E2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"a%5E2%2Bb%5E2=c%5E2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Start with the Pythagorean theorem.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E2%2B%28x-7%29%5E2=13%5E2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E2%2B%28x-7%29%5E2=13%5E2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Plug in <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=a=x ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"a=x\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=b=x-7 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"b=x-7\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=c=13 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"c=13\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E2%2B%28x-7%29%5E2=169 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E2%2B%28x-7%29%5E2=169\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Square <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=13 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"13\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > to get <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=169 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"169\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E2%2Bx%5E2-14x%2B49=169 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E2%2Bx%5E2-14x%2B49=169\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > FOIL\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E2%2Bx%5E2-14x%2B49-169=0 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E2%2Bx%5E2-14x%2B49-169=0\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Subtract 169 from both sides.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=2x%5E2-14x-120=0 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"2x%5E2-14x-120=0\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Combine like terms.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Notice we have a quadratic equation in the form of <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=ax%5E2%2Bbx%2Bc ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"ax%5E2%2Bbx%2Bc\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > where <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=a=2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"a=2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=b=-14 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"b=-14\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, and <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=c=-120 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"c=-120\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Let's use the quadratic formula to solve for x\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%28-b+%2B-+sqrt%28+b%5E2-4ac+%29%29%2F%282a%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%28-b+%2B-+sqrt%28+b%5E2-4ac+%29%29%2F%282a%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Start with the quadratic formula\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%28-%28-14%29+%2B-+sqrt%28+%28-14%29%5E2-4%282%29%28-120%29+%29%29%2F%282%282%29%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%28-%28-14%29+%2B-+sqrt%28+%28-14%29%5E2-4%282%29%28-120%29+%29%29%2F%282%282%29%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Plug in  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=a=2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"a=2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=b=-14 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"b=-14\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, and <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=c=-120 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"c=-120\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%2814+%2B-+sqrt%28+%28-14%29%5E2-4%282%29%28-120%29+%29%29%2F%282%282%29%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%2814+%2B-+sqrt%28+%28-14%29%5E2-4%282%29%28-120%29+%29%29%2F%282%282%29%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Negate <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-14 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-14\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > to get <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=14 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"14\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >. \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%2814+%2B-+sqrt%28+196-4%282%29%28-120%29+%29%29%2F%282%282%29%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%2814+%2B-+sqrt%28+196-4%282%29%28-120%29+%29%29%2F%282%282%29%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Square <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-14 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-14\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > to get <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=196 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"196\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >. \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%2814+%2B-+sqrt%28+196--960+%29%29%2F%282%282%29%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%2814+%2B-+sqrt%28+196--960+%29%29%2F%282%282%29%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Multiply <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=4%282%29%28-120%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"4%282%29%28-120%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > to get <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-960 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-960\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%2814+%2B-+sqrt%28+196%2B960+%29%29%2F%282%282%29%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%2814+%2B-+sqrt%28+196%2B960+%29%29%2F%282%282%29%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Rewrite <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=sqrt%28196--960%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"sqrt%28196--960%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > as <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=sqrt%28196%2B960%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"sqrt%28196%2B960%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%2814+%2B-+sqrt%28+1156+%29%29%2F%282%282%29%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%2814+%2B-+sqrt%28+1156+%29%29%2F%282%282%29%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Add <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=196 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"196\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > to <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=960 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"960\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > to get <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=1156 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"1156\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%2814+%2B-+sqrt%28+1156+%29%29%2F%284%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%2814+%2B-+sqrt%28+1156+%29%29%2F%284%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Multiply <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > and <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > to get <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >. \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%2814+%2B-+34%29%2F%284%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%2814+%2B-+34%29%2F%284%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Take the square root of <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=1156 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"1156\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > to get <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=34 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"34\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >. \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%2814+%2B+34%29%2F%284%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%2814+%2B+34%29%2F%284%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > or <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%2814+-+34%29%2F%284%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%2814+-+34%29%2F%284%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Break up the expression. \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%2848%29%2F%284%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%2848%29%2F%284%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > or <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=++%28-20%29%2F%284%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=++%28-20%29%2F%284%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Combine like terms. \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+12 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+12\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > or <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+-5 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+-5\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Simplify. \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So the possible answers are <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+12 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+12\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > or <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+-5 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+-5\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "  \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "However, a negative length is NOT possible. So <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+-5 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+-5\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > is NOT a solution\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So the only answer is <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+12 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+12\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "================================================================\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Answer:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So the solution is <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+12 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+12\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "This means that the other leg is <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=12-7=5 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"12-7=5\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So the two legs are: 12 and 5 units </SPAN>\n" );
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