Question 187811
the hypotenuse of a right triangle is 5m long.One leg is 1m longer than the other. Find the lengths of the legs.(SET UP AND SOLVE) 
My teacher is so complicated...I don't even know where to start with this. 
--------------------------
It's the world famous 3-4-5 right triangle.
To solve it, tho, use the Pythagorean Theorem.
{{{c^2 = a^2 + b^2}}} where c is the hypotenuse.
{{{25 = a^2 + (a+1)^2}}} See that?  5^2 = 25
{{{a^2 + a^2+2a+1 = 25}}}
{{{2a^2 + 2a - 24 = 0}}}
{{{a^2 + a - 12 = 0}}}
(a+4)*(a-3) = 0
a = 3 Ignore the -4
b = a+1 = 4
The legs are 3 and 4