SOLUTION: Solve. The shorter leg of a right triangle is 4 cm less than the longer leg. The hypotenuse is 6 cm long. Find the length of the longer leg.

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Question 124662: Solve.
The shorter leg of a right triangle is 4 cm less than the longer leg. The hypotenuse is 6 cm long. Find the length of the longer leg.
Answer by checkley71(8403) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
(X-4)^2+X^2=6^2
X^2-8X+16+X^2=36
2X^2-8X+16-36=0
2X^2-8X-20=0
2(X^2-4X-10)=0
USING THE QUADRATIC EQUATION:x+=+%28-b+%2B-+sqrt%28+b%5E2-4%2Aa%2Ac+%29%29%2F%282%2Aa%29+ WE GET:
X=(4+-SQRT[-4^2-4*1*-10])/2*1
X=(4+-SQRT16+40])/2
X=(4+-SQRT56])/2
X=(4+-7.48)/2
X=(4+7.48)/2
X=11.48/2
X=5.74 ANSWER FOR THE LONGEST LEG.