SOLUTION: one leg of a right triangle is 6cm shorter that the other leg, The length of the hypotenuse is 30cm. Find the length of the longer leg?

Algebra ->  Quadratic Equations and Parabolas  -> Quadratic Equation Customizable Word Problems -> SOLUTION: one leg of a right triangle is 6cm shorter that the other leg, The length of the hypotenuse is 30cm. Find the length of the longer leg?      Log On


   

Question 339135: one leg of a right triangle is 6cm shorter that the other leg, The length of the hypotenuse is 30cm. Find the length of the longer leg?
Answer by Fombitz(32388) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Use the Pythagorean theorem,
A%5E2%2BB%5E2=H%5E2
A%5E2%2B%28A-6%29%5E2=30%5E2
A%5E2%2BA%5E2-12A%2B36=900
2A%5E2-12A-864=0
A%5E2-6A-432=0
%28A-24%29%28A%2B18%29=0
Only positive solutions make sense in this problem,
A-24=0
highlight%28A=24%29cm
B=A-6=24-6=18cm