SOLUTION: Please help me with my problem. One leg of a right triangle is 6 cm shorter than the other leg. The length of the hypotenuse is 30 cm. Find the length of the longer leg. Please s

Algebra ->  Triangles -> SOLUTION: Please help me with my problem. One leg of a right triangle is 6 cm shorter than the other leg. The length of the hypotenuse is 30 cm. Find the length of the longer leg. Please s      Log On


   

Question 313638: Please help me with my problem. One leg of a right triangle is 6 cm shorter than the other leg. The length of the hypotenuse is 30 cm. Find the length of the longer leg. Please show work.
Answer by stanbon(75887) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
One leg of a right triangle is 6 cm shorter than the other leg. The length of the hypotenuse is 30 cm. Find the length of the longer leg.
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longer leg: x
shorter leg: x-6
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Equation:
x^2 + (x-6)^2 = 30^2
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x^2 + x^2 - 12x + 36 = 900
2x^2-12x-864 = 0
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x^2 - 6x - 432 = 0
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x = [6 +- sqrt(36-4*-432)]/2
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x = [6 +- sqrt(1764)]/2
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x = [6 +- 42]/2
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x = 24; x = -18
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Cheers,
Stan H.
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