One side of a right triangle is 2 cm shorter than the hypotenuse and 7 cm longer than the third side. find the lengths of the sides of the triangle.

The right angles triangle has three sides including the hypotenuse which is opposite to the right angle.

If the hypotenuse - H

Then one side is - H - 2

Third side is 7 cm shorter then H-2

Therefore it’s H - 2-7 = H - 9

According to Pythagoras theorem

Square of hypotenuse = sum of the squares of the other 2 sides

H² = (H-9) ² + (H-2) ²

H² = H² - 18H + 81 + H² - 4H + 4

0 = H² - 22H + 85

This is a quadratic equation

0 = H² - 17H - 5H + 85

0 = H (H - 17) - 5 (H-17)

(H-17) (H-5) = 0

H - 17=0 or H-5=0

H could be 17 cm or 5 cm

If H = 5 cm then

Side 1 - H-2 = 3 cm

And side 2 - H-9 = - 4 cm

Since lengths cannot be negative values

H isn’t 5 cm

Therefore H = 17 cm

1 side is H-2 = 15 cm

2nd side H - 9 = 8 cm

Three sides are 17 cm, 15 cm and 8 cm