SOLUTION: Solve for a..(a-7),(a+1),a

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Question 899397: Solve for a..(a-7),(a+1),a
Answer by Fombitz(32388) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
I'm assuming a is a positive number.
%28a-7%29%5E2%2Ba%5E2=%28a%2B1%29%5E2
%28a%5E2-14a%2B49%29%2Ba%5E2=%28a%5E2%2B2a%2B1%29
2a%5E2-14a%2B49=a%5E2%2B2a%2B1
a%5E2-16a%2B48=0
%28a-4%29%28a-12%29=0
Two solutions:
a-4=0
a=4
However a-7=-3 so this is not a proper solution to this problem.
a-12=0
a=12
So the sides are 5, 12, and 13