SOLUTION: This was on my test, I need to correct it but can't figure it out. A right triangle has three consecutive integers as its sides. Set up a quadratic equation to solve the problem

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Question 74456: This was on my test, I need to correct it but can't figure it out.
A right triangle has three consecutive integers as its sides. Set up a quadratic equation to solve the problem. Use the pythagorean theorem to find all three sides.
Answer by checkley75(3666) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
the three sides are x +(x+1)+(x+2)
x^2+(x+1)^2=(x+2)^2
x^2+x^2+2x+1=x^2+4x+4
2x^2-x^2-2x-4x+1-4=0
x^2-6x-3=0 using the quadratic equation we get:
x+=+%28-b+%2B-+sqrt%28+b%5E2-4%2Aa%2Ac+%29%29%2F%282%2Aa%29+ this is the quadratic equation.
x=(6+-sqrt[36-4*1*-3])/2*1
x=(6+-sqrt[36+12])/2
x=(6+-sqrt48)/2
x=(6+-6.928)/2
x=(6+6.928)/2
x=12.928/2
x=6.464 is the length of the smallest side.
x+1=7.464 is the next longest side.
x+2=8.464 is the hypotenuse of this triangle.