Question

If the area of a right triangle is 20. And the short base leg is 3 units shorter than the longer leg. What is the measurement of the base legs?

Answer 1

Shorter leg = 5

Longer leg = 8

Explanation:

Shorter leg = 3

Longer leg = x+3

area = (x * (x+3)) / 2 = 20

x² + 3x -40 = 0

(x + 8) (x - 5) = 0

x = -8 or x = 5 ... leg length > 0 x = 5

Shorter leg = 5

Longer leg = 8