document.write( "Question 800215: the flower garden has the shape of a right triangle. 17ft of a perennial border forms the hypotenuse of the triangle, and one leg is 7 ft longer than the other leg. find the length of the legs \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #482985 by Cromlix(4381)\"\" \"About 
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Using the Pythagorean formula
\n" ); document.write( "Base leg = x
\n" ); document.write( "Vertical leg = x + 7
\n" ); document.write( "Hypotenuse = 17
\n" ); document.write( "x^2 + (x + 7)^2 = 17^2
\n" ); document.write( "x^2 + x^2 + 14x + 49 = 289
\n" ); document.write( "Collect like terms;
\n" ); document.write( "2x^2 + 14x - 240 = 0
\n" ); document.write( "Divide by 2
\n" ); document.write( "x^2 + 7x - 120 = 0
\n" ); document.write( "(x - 8)(x + 15) = 0
\n" ); document.write( "x + 15 = 0
\n" ); document.write( "x = -15 (no answer x < 0)
\n" ); document.write( "x - 8 = 0
\n" ); document.write( "x = 8
\n" ); document.write( "Size of legs:
\n" ); document.write( "Base leg = 8 ft
\n" ); document.write( "Vertical leg = 15 ft
\n" ); document.write( "Hope this helps.
\n" ); document.write( ":-) \n" ); document.write( "
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