document.write( "Question 374096: Suppose that the length of one leg of a right triangle is 3 in more than the length of the other leg. If the length of the hypotenuse is 15 in find the lengths of the two legs. \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #266285 by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740)\"\" \"About 
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Suppose that the length of one leg of a right triangle is 3 in more than the
\n" ); document.write( " length of the other leg.
\n" ); document.write( "If the length of the hypotenuse is 15 in find the lengths of the two legs.
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\n" ); document.write( "Remember a^2 + b^2 = c^2
\n" ); document.write( "c is given as 15
\n" ); document.write( "let
\n" ); document.write( "a = one leg
\n" ); document.write( "and
\n" ); document.write( "(a+3) = the other leg
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "a^2 + (a+3)^2 = 15^2
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "a^2 + a^2 + 6a + 9 = 225
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "2a^2 + 6a + 9 - 225 = 0; our old friend, the quadratic equation!
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "2a^2 + 6a - 216 = 0
\n" ); document.write( "simplify, divide by 2
\n" ); document.write( "a^2 + 3a - 108 = 0
\n" ); document.write( "factors to
\n" ); document.write( "(a-9)(a+12) = 0
\n" ); document.write( "the positive solution
\n" ); document.write( "a = 9 is one leg
\n" ); document.write( "and obviously
\n" ); document.write( "12 = the other leg
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\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "Check:
\n" ); document.write( "9^2 + 12^2 = 15^2
\n" ); document.write( "81 + 144 = 225; confirms our solution \n" ); document.write( "
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