SOLUTION: The hypotenuse of a right triangle has a length of 13 cm. the sum of the lengths of the other two sides is 17. Find the unknown lengths.

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Question 322749: The hypotenuse of a right triangle has a length of 13 cm. the sum of the lengths of the other two sides is 17. Find the unknown lengths.
Answer by Fombitz(32388) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
A%5E2%2BB%5E2=13%5E2
A%2BB=17
From eq. 2,
B=17-A
Substitute into eq. 1,
A%5E2%2B%2817-A%29%5E2=169
A%5E2%2B289-34A%2BA%5E2=169
2A%5E2-34A%2B120=0
A%5E2-17A%2B60=0
%28A-12%29%28A-5%29=0
Two solutions:
A=12
Then from eq. 2,
12%2BB=17
B=5
.
.
.
A-5=0
A=5
Then,
5%2BB=17
B=12
.
.
.
The other two sides are 5 and 12 cm long.