SOLUTION: The length of one leg of a right triangle is 7 meters less than the length of the other leg. The length of the hypotenuse is 13 meters. What is the length of the other two sides?

Algebra ->  Quadratic Equations and Parabolas  -> Quadratic Equations Lessons  -> Quadratic Equation Lesson -> SOLUTION: The length of one leg of a right triangle is 7 meters less than the length of the other leg. The length of the hypotenuse is 13 meters. What is the length of the other two sides?      Log On


   

Question 1088139: The length of one leg of a right triangle is 7 meters less than the length of the other leg. The length of the hypotenuse is 13 meters. What is the length of the other two sides?
Answer by Fombitz(32388) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
x%5E2%2B%28x-7%29%5E2=13%5E2
x%5E2%2Bx%5E2-14x%2B49=169
2x%5E2-14x-120=0
x%5E2-7x-60=0
%28x-12%29%28x%2B5%29=0
Only positive values for x make sense here,
x-12=0
x=12
x-7=5
5-12-13 triangle.