Hi, I'd like some help with one of the questions on my math homework. It has to do with a right triangle. I'm not sure how to set it up or if I should use the pythagorean theorem.
This is the question:
Vista county is setting aside a large parcel of land to preserve it as open space. The county hired Meghan's surveying firm to survey the parcel, which is in the shape of a right triangle. The longer leg of the triangle measures 5 miles less than the square of the shorter leg, and the hypotenuse of the triangle measures 13 miles less than twice the square of the shorter leg. The length of each boundary is a whole number. Find the length of each boundary.
This is what I've figured out so far:
a and b are both legs of the triangle both next to the right angle, c is the hypotenuse opposite of the right angle. Lets say a is the longer leg of the triangle. Considering the longer leg of the triangle measures 5 miles less than the square of the shorter leg the equation would be b^2-5. This means we need to find out what b is. The equation for the hypotenuse (c) would be b^2*2-13
This means that we need to find out what b is, but I have no idea how to, help please .-.
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