Problema Solution
the larger leg of a right triangle is 3 cm longer than its smaller leg. the hypotenuse is 6 cm longer than the smaller leg. how many cm long is the smaller leg?
Answer provided by our tutors
Let
x = the smaller leg, x>0
x + 3 = the larger leg
x + 6 = the hypotenuse
Using the Pythagorean Theorem we can write:
(x + 6)^2 = x^2 + (x + 3)^2
........
........
x = 9 cm
The smaller leg is 9 cm long.