Problema Solution
Please help me to solve this :
The hypotenuse of a right triangle is 6 more than the shorter leg. The longer leg is three more than the shorter leg. Find the length of the shorter leg
Hint: Draw a right triangle and apply the Pythagorean Theorem
Answer provided by our tutors
Short leg is a=x
Hypothenuse is h=x+6
Long leg is b=x+3
h^2 = a^2 + b^2
(x+6)^2 = x^2 + (x+3)^2
x2 + 12x + 36 = x2 + x2 + 6x + 9
Rearrange
-x2 + 6x +27 = 0
Factor
(-x+9)(x+3)=0
x is either 9 or -3. -x is an impossible value, so the short leg has length 9.