SOLUTION: the length of the larger leg of a hypotinuse is one more than the legth of the shorter leg. the hypotenuse is one less than twice the width. find the legth of the longer leg. How d

Algebra ->  Triangles -> SOLUTION: the length of the larger leg of a hypotinuse is one more than the legth of the shorter leg. the hypotenuse is one less than twice the width. find the legth of the longer leg. How d      Log On


   

Question 752716: the length of the larger leg of a hypotinuse is one more than the legth of the shorter leg. the hypotenuse is one less than twice the width. find the legth of the longer leg. How do you do this??
Answer by josgarithmetic(39617) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
larger leg = 1+x
shorter leg = x
hypotenuse = 2*( either {1+x} or {x} )-1

You just need to decide which value of leg is the width, and then apply pythagorean theorem. Is the larger leg the width, or is the shorter leg the width?

My best guess, you WILL develop one or two quadratic equations. If the discriminant of one of them is less than zero, then the other quadratic equation will need to work.