SOLUTION: The shortest leg of a triangle is 7 feet shorter than the other leg. The hypotenuse of this triangle is 17 feet. What are the lengths of the two legs of this triangle? The sho

Algebra ->  Rectangles -> SOLUTION: The shortest leg of a triangle is 7 feet shorter than the other leg. The hypotenuse of this triangle is 17 feet. What are the lengths of the two legs of this triangle? The sho      Log On


   

Question 1187269: The shortest leg of a triangle is 7 feet shorter than the other leg. The hypotenuse of this triangle is 17 feet. What are the lengths of the two legs of this triangle?

The shortest leg is feet long.

The other leg is feet long.
Answer by josgarithmetic(39617) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
other leg, x
shortest leg, x-7
hypotenuse, 17

x%5E2%2B%28x-7%29%5E2=17%5E2
.
.
.
Or,
interesting article, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagorean_triple
showing 8, 15, 17.

15-7=8
and
8%5E2%2B15%5E2
64%2B225
289=17%5E2