Solve.
-One leg of a right triangle is 21 inches longer than the smaller leg, and the hypotenuse is 24 inches longer than the smaller leg. Find the lengths of the sides of the triangle.
A)15 in., 36 in., 39 in.
B)14 in., 35 in., 40 in
C)12 in., 33 in., 36 in
D)16 in., 37 in., 40 in

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Let x be the length of the smaller leg. Then the other leg is x + 21 and the hypotenuse is x + 24. By the Pythagorean theorem, we have:(x + 21)^2 + x^2 = (x + 24)^2x^2 + 42x + 441 + x^2 = x^2 + 48x + 57642x = 135x = 15Therefore, the lengths of the sides of the triangle are 15 in., 36 in., and 39 in.

Solve. -One Leg of a Right Triangle Is 21 Inches Longer