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

Algebra ->  Customizable Word Problem Solvers  -> Misc -> SOLUTION: The shortest leg of a triangle is 7 inches shorter than the other leg. The hypotenuse of this triangle is 13 inches. What are the lengths of the two legs of this triangle?      Log On

Ad: Over 600 Algebra Word Problems at edhelper.com


   



Question 1164390: The shortest leg of a triangle is 7 inches shorter than the other leg. The hypotenuse of this triangle is 13 inches. What are the lengths of the two legs of this triangle?
Answer by ikleyn(52814) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.

The second famous Pythagorean triple after (3,4,5)  with  3^2 + 4^2 = 5^2


is (5,12,13)  with  5^2 + 12^2 = 25 + 144 = 169 = 13^2.


So, your triangle is (5,12,13) inches.    ANSWER



Alternatively,  you can solve this quadratic equation

    x^2 + (x-7)^2 = 13.


You will get the same triangle, then.


After doing some work, of course.

Solved.