Answer:
Short leg = 24inches
Long leg = 32inches
Hypotenuse = 40inches
Step-by-step explanation:
Given:
- shorter leg is 8inches shorter than the longer leg
- hypotenuse is 8inches longer than the longer leg
- longer leg = x inches
Pythagorean Theorem:
a²+b²=c² → (x-8)²+ x² = (x+8)²
Solving for both sides:
x² - 16x+ 64 + x² = x²+ 16x + 64
More Painful Solving:
x² - 32x = 0
x(x-32) = 0
x=0 or 32
Can't use the 0 so we trash it!
x=32
add 8 to get the hypotenuse and subtract 8 to get the short leg
