The larger leg of a right triangle is 3 cm longer than its smaller leg.

The larger leg of a right triangle is 3 cm longer than its smaller leg. The
hypotenuse is 8 cm longer than the smaller leg. How many centimeters long is the
smaller leg?

 

a = ?               b = a + 3          c = a + 8

 

a² + b² = c²

 

a² + (a + 3)² = (a + 8)²

 

a = 13.94427191 cm

( I tried to edit the above post, but that didn't let me.)

 

a = ?               b = a + 3          c = a + 8

 

a² + b² = c²

 

a = sqrt(c² - b²)

 

a = sqrt[(a + 8)² - (a + 3)²]

 

a = 13.94427191 cm