The hypotenuse of a right triangle is 15 inches. One of the legs is 3 inches more than the other. Find the length of the two legs.

Let x = one of the legs.

Then, the other leg = x + 3.

Ed will use the Pythagorean Theorem to find the hypotenuse.

So, let a = x one leg. Let b= x + 3 the other leg. And, let c = 15 the hypotenuse.

The Pythagorean Theorem is:

c^2 = a^2 + b^2, where a and b are the legs and c is the hypotenuse.

We have:

15^2 = x^2 + (x + 3)^2

225 = x^2 + x^2 + 6x + 9

Rearranging:

2x^2 + 6x - 216 = 0

Divide by 2:

x^2 + 3x - 108 = 0

Solve by factoring:

(x - 9)(x + 12) = 0

So, x = 9 and x = -12. (x = -12 is not a valid answer.)

x = 9

x + 3 = 12

Conclusion: The legs of the right triangle are 9 inches and 12 inches.

Eddie-G…