SOLUTION: The flower garden has the shape of a right triangle. 51 ft of a perennial border forms the hypotenuse of the triangle, and one leg is 21 ft longer than other leg. Find the lengths

Algebra ->  Quadratic Equations and Parabolas  -> Quadratic Equations Lessons -> SOLUTION: The flower garden has the shape of a right triangle. 51 ft of a perennial border forms the hypotenuse of the triangle, and one leg is 21 ft longer than other leg. Find the lengths       Log On


   

Question 407955: The flower garden has the shape of a right triangle. 51 ft of a perennial border forms the hypotenuse of the triangle, and one leg is 21 ft longer than other leg. Find the lengths of the legs. What are the lengths of the legs?
Answer by mananth(16946) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
x^2+(x+21)^2=51^2
x^2+x^2+42x+441=2601
2x^2+42x-2160=0
/2
x^2+21x-1080=0
x^2+45x-24x-1080=0
x(x+45)-24(x+45)=0
(x+45)(x-24)=0
x=24 which is positive
one leg = 24 ft
other leg = 45ft