How do I solve: One leg of a right triangle is 4 m longer than the other. If the length of the hypotenuse is 18 m, how long are the other two legs?

Answer 1

x^2 + (x+4)^2 = 18^2 = 324

2 x^2 + 8 x + 16 = 324

2 x^2 + 8 x - 308 = 0

x^2 + 4 x -154 = 0

x = [ -4 +/- sqrt (16 + 616)]/2

= [-4 +/- 2 sqrt 158 ] /2
= -2 +/- sqrt 158 use + root

10.57

14.57