SOLUTION: The hypotenuse of a right triangle is 7 ft long. One leg is 1.4ft longer than the other leg. Find the length of the legs

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Question 1093488: The hypotenuse of a right triangle is 7 ft long. One leg is 1.4ft longer than the other leg. Find the length of the legs
Found 2 solutions by josgarithmetic, ikleyn:
Answer by josgarithmetic(39617) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Legs are x and x%2B1.4;
hypotenuse, 7 feet.

Pythagorean Theorem: %28x%2B1.4%29%5E2%2Bx%5E2=7%5E2.
Simplify and solve.

Answer by ikleyn(52781) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.
When I see these numbers, 7 and 1.4, my first thought is "what is their ratio ?"


Their ratio is 1%2F5 = 1.4%2F7.


Then I see that I can reformulate the problem equivalently in this form;


The hypotenuse of a right triangle is 5 units long, while one leg is 1 unit longer than the other.


By saying this, I recall momentarily 3-4-5 right angled triangle.


So, the legs in your problem are 1.4*3  and 1.4*4 ft.


In this way, you can solve this problem MENTALLY.