A stained-glass window is shaped like a right triangle. The hypotenuse is 15feet. The length of one leg is three more than the other. Find the lengths of the legs.

let us build equation for unknown legs

If we keep the length pf one leg as x

the other leg would be x +3

so we can build a relationship using pythagoras theorem

x^2 + (x+3)^2 = 15^2

x^2 + x^2 + 6x + 9 = 225

2x^2 + 6x + 9 = 225

2x^2 + 6x+ 9-225 = 0

2x^2 + 6x - 216 = 0

x^2 + 3x - 108 = 0 dividing whole equation by 2

x^2 + 12x - 9x - 108 = 0

x ( x + 12 ) - 9 (x + 12) = 0

(x -9) ( x +12) = 0

solutions for x are

x = 9 or x = -12

as lengths cannot be negative

one side length is 9cm

and other which is( x + 3)

9 + 3

12cm