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Call the length of the shorter leg s. Then, from the Pythagorean theorem,

s2 + (s + 17)2 = 252. Expanding the binomial results in:

s2 + s2 + 34s + 172 = 252, or

2s2 + 34s + 289= 625, or

s2 + 17s - 168 = 0. This can be factored into:

(s + 24)(s - 7) = 0, which is true when s = -24 or 7. Only the latter answer makes sense for a physical triangle; therefore, the shorter leg of this triangle is 7 cm long.

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Anonymous

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Q: The hypotenuse of a right triangle is 25 cm long One leg is 17 cm longer than the other Find the length of the shorter leg?
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