Advanced MathHardRight triangle with the hypotenuse described in terms of a leg
Advanced Math practice question
In a right triangle, the shorter leg is 8 units long and the hypotenuse is 2 units longer than the longer leg. What is the length, in units, of the longer leg?
Answer: 15
Let the longer leg be x, so the hypotenuse is x + 2: 8² + x² = (x + 2)² → 64 + x² = x² + 4x + 4 → 60 = 4x → x = 15.
Common wrong answers
- If you answered 6
- 6 comes from 8 − 2, misreading the relationship.
- If you answered 16
- 16 comes from 64 = 4x, dropping the 4.
- If you answered 17
- 17 is the hypotenuse.
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