Question 171640
 the hypotneuse of a right triangle is 2.9 inches long.the longer leg is 1.7 units longer than the shorter leg. what is the length of the side of the triangle?
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Let shorter leg be x inches long
then 2nd leg is "x+1.7" inches long.
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EQUATION:
2.9^2 = x^2 + (x+1.7)^2
8.41 = x^2 + x^2 + 3.4x + 2.89
2x^2 + 3.4x - 5.52 = 0

x^2 + 1.7x - 2.76 = 0

x = [-1.7 +- sqrt(1.7^2 - 4*-2.76)]/2

x = [-1.7 +- sqrt(13.93)]/2

x = [-1.7 +- 3.7323]/2

Positive solution:
x = 1.01615000
Cheers,
Stan H.
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