SOLUTION: HELP!! I am having trouble setting this up. The lengths of the sides of a right triangle are such that the shortest side is 7 in. shorter than the middle side, while the longes

Algebra ->  Pythagorean-theorem -> SOLUTION: HELP!! I am having trouble setting this up. The lengths of the sides of a right triangle are such that the shortest side is 7 in. shorter than the middle side, while the longes      Log On


   

Question 31781This question is from textbook
: HELP!! I am having trouble setting this up.
The lengths of the sides of a right triangle are such that the shortest side is 7 in. shorter than the middle side, while the longest side (the hypotenuse) is 1 in. longer than the middle side. Find the lengths of the sides.
a=x-7
b=x
c=x+1 ??? This question is from textbook

Found 2 solutions by stanbon, checkley71:
Answer by stanbon(75887) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Yes, you have the proper representations for the lengths of the sides.
Now, x^2+ (x-7)^2= (x+1)^2
Solve that to find the value of "x".
Cheers,
Stan H.

Answer by checkley71(8403) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
SHORT SIDE IS X-7, MIDDLE SIDE IS X & LONGEST SIDE IS X+1