document.write( "Question 886: The longer leg of a right triangle is 3 inches longer than x, the length of the shorter leg. The hypotenuse is 15 inches long. The following equation shows the relationship between the sides of the triangle.
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document.write( " x^2+(x+3)^2=225\r
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document.write( " What is the length of the shorter leg? \n" );
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Algebra.Com's Answer #296 by usyim88hk(158)![]() ![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! first of all, let's solve for (x+3)^2 \n" ); document.write( "(x+3)(x+3) \n" ); document.write( "x(x+3)+3(x+3) \n" ); document.write( "x^2+3x+3x+9 \n" ); document.write( "x^2+6x+9 \n" ); document.write( "Then put this into the equation \n" ); document.write( "x^2+x^2+6x+9=225 \n" ); document.write( "2x^2+6x+9=225 \n" ); document.write( "Now subtract both sides by 225 to make both sides equal to zero \n" ); document.write( "2x^2+6x-216=0 \n" ); document.write( "Use the quadratic formula \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "x=(-48/4) or (36/4) \n" ); document.write( "x=-12 or 9 \n" ); document.write( "Since length cannot be negative number, -12 is not the answer, so 9 is the length of the shorter leg. \n" ); document.write( "-------------------------------------------------------------------------- \n" ); document.write( "check: 9^2+(9+3)^2=225 \n" ); document.write( " 81+144=225 \n" ); document.write( " 225=225 (correct!!!) \n" ); document.write( " |