SOLUTION: The shortest leg of a triangle is 7 centimeters shorter than the other leg. The hypotenuse of this triangle is 13 centimeters. What are the lengths of the two legs of this triangle

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Question 1056237: The shortest leg of a triangle is 7 centimeters shorter than the other leg. The hypotenuse of this triangle is 13 centimeters. What are the lengths of the two legs of this triangle?
the shortest leg is ____________ centimeters long
the other leg is ___________ centimeters long
Answer by Edwin McCravy(20056) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

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The shortest leg of a triangle is 7 centimeters shorter
than the other leg



a%5E2%2Bb%5E2=c%5E2
a%5E2%2B%28a-7%29%5E2=13%5E2
a%5E2%2B%28a%5E2-14a%2B49%29=169
a%5E2%2Ba%5E2-14a%2B49=169
2a%5E2-14a-120=0
a%5E2-7a-60=0
%28a-12%29%28a%2B5%29=0
a-12 = 0;   a+5 = 0
   a = 12;    a = -5

Discard the negative answer.

Since b=a-7,
      b=12-7,
      b=5 



Edwin