Question

Please help!
The length of one leg of a right triangle is x - 6 centimeters, and the area is 1/2 x^2 - 7 + 24 square centimeters. What is the length of the other leg?

Answer 1

Diagram?

Answer 2

It really depends which legs you are describing..hypotenuse..etc

Answer 3

Actually..wait I don't think you need a diagram

Answer 4

The formula for area is( base time height)/2

Answer 5

x-6 times what /2=

1/2 x^2 - 7 + 24

Answer 6

i have no idea

Answer 7

Multiply the area back by 2 to get x^2-14x+48

that factors into what?

Answer 8

(x-6) and..?

Answer 9

is it (x-8) ?

Answer 10

Yup, the missing leg is (x-8) because

(x-6)(x-8)=x^2-14x+48

divide that by 2 and you get the correct area. 1/2x^2-7x+24

Answer 11

oooh okay :) thanks