The hypotenuse of a right triangle is 2 centimeters more than the longer side of the triangle. The shorter side of the triangle is 7 centimeters less than the longer side. Find the length of the hypotenuse.	Options:
A) 17
B) 18
C) 19
D) 20
E) 21
Let a and b be the two sides of the triangle such that a is longer than b. The statement "the hypotenuse of a right triangle is 2 centimeters more than the longer side of the triangle" may be fomulated by   h = a + 2 or a = h - 2   The statement "the shorter side of the triangle is 7 centimeters less than the longer side" may be formulated .   b = a - 7 or b = (h - 2) - 7 = h - 9   We now use Pythagora's theorem to write a third equation   h 2 = a 2 + b 2   Substitute a by h - 2 and b by h - 9 in the above equation to obtain an equation in one variable only.   h 2 = (h - 2) 2 + (h - 9) 2   Simplify and rewrite the above equation in standard form.   h 2 -22 h + 85 = 0   Solve for h.   h = 5 and h = 17.   Only the solution h = 17 gives a and b positive and it is the length of the hypotenuse of the triangle.   17nswer 17
<result>A</result>
The hypotenuse of a right triangle is 2 centimeters more than the longer side of the triangle. The shorter side of the triangle is 7 centimeters less than the longer side. Find the length of the hypotenuse.