SOLUTION: The shortest leg of a triangle is 17 centimeters shorter than the other leg. The hypotenuse of this triangle is 25 centimeters. What are the lengths of the two legs of this triangl

Algebra ->  Pythagorean-theorem -> SOLUTION: The shortest leg of a triangle is 17 centimeters shorter than the other leg. The hypotenuse of this triangle is 25 centimeters. What are the lengths of the two legs of this triangl      Log On


   

Question 1187325: The shortest leg of a triangle is 17 centimeters shorter than the other leg. The hypotenuse of this triangle is 25 centimeters. What are the lengths of the two legs of this triangle?

The shortest leg is centimeters long.

The other leg is centimeters long.

Answer by ikleyn(52781) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
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To find the shorter leg, write and solve this Pythagorean equation


     x^2 + (x+17)^2 = 25^2.


The length of the longer leg is (x+17) cm then.