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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\n" ); document.write( " x^2+(x+3)^2=225\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " What is the length of the shorter leg?
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Algebra.Com's Answer #296 by usyim88hk(158)\"\" \"About 
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( "\"+x=%28%28-6%2B-sqrt%28%28-6%29%5E2-4%282%29%28-216%29%29%29%2F%282%282%29%29%29+\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"+x=%28%28-6%2B-sqrt%2836%2B1728%29%29%2F4%29+\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"+x=%28%28-6%2B-42%29%2F4%29+\"
\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.
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\n" ); document.write( "check: 9^2+(9+3)^2=225
\n" ); document.write( " 81+144=225
\n" ); document.write( " 225=225 (correct!!!)
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