Question 57915
The length of one leg of a right triangle is 24 ft.  The length of the other leg is 16 ft. shorter than the hypotenuse.  Find the length of the hypotenuse and the other leg.  
Let the hypotenuse=x
the length of one leg=24 ft
the length of the other=x-16
The pythagorean theorem is:  hypotenuse^2=leg^2+other leg^2
:
{{{x^2=24^2+(x-16)^2}}}
{{{x^2=576+x^2-32x+256}}}
{{{x^2=x^2-32x+832}}}
{{{-x^2+x^2=-x^2+x^2-32x+832}}}
{{{0=-32x+832}}}
{{{-832+0=-32x+832-832}}}
{{{-832=-32x}}}
{{{-832/-32=-32x/-32}}}
{{{26=x}}}
The hypotenuse:x=26 ft.
The other leg:x-16=26-16=10 ft.
:
Check:
{{{26^2=24^2+10^2}}}
{{{676=576+100}}}
{{{676=676}}}  Feels good to be right!!!
Happy Calculating!!!