SOLUTION: The hypotenuse of a right triangle is 25 ft long. One leg is 17 ft longer than the other. Find the lengths of the legs.

Algebra ->  Quadratic Equations and Parabolas  -> Quadratic Equations Lessons  -> Quadratic Equation Lesson -> SOLUTION: The hypotenuse of a right triangle is 25 ft long. One leg is 17 ft longer than the other. Find the lengths of the legs.      Log On


   

Question 1139183: The hypotenuse of a right triangle is 25 ft long. One leg is 17 ft longer than the other. Find the lengths of the legs.
Found 2 solutions by Alan3354, greenestamps:
Answer by Alan3354(69443) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The hypotenuse of a right triangle is 25 ft long. One leg is 17 ft longer than the other. Find the lengths of the legs.
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x^2 + (x+17)^2 = 25^2

Answer by greenestamps(13200) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


It helps to know some basic Pythagorean triples -- sets of three integers that can be the lengths of the two legs and hypotenuse of a right triangle.

There are two such triples with a hypotenuse of 25: 15-20-25, and 7-24-25.

One of those meets the conditions of the problem....