Question 673245
Find the length of the shorter leg of a right triangle if the longer leg is 12 feet more than the shorter leg and the hypotenuse is 12 feet less than twice the shorter leg. 
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Let the shorter leg be "x".
Other leg: "x+12"
Hypotenuse: "2x-12"
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Equation:
(2x-12)^2 = x^2 + (x+12)^2
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4x^2 - 48x + 144 = 2x^2 + 24x + 144
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2x^2 - 72x = 0
2x(x-36) = 0
Positive solution:
x = 36 (shorter leg)
x+12 = 48 (longer leg)
2x-12 = 60 (hypotenuse)
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Cheers,
Stan H.