Question

The hypotenuse $c$ and one arm $a$ of a right triangle are consecutive integers. The square of the second arm is:

$ca$

$\dfrac ca$

$c+a$

$c-a$

none of these

If the second arm is $b,$ then $b^2=c^2-a^2$

Factor the difference of squares and use $c-a=1$

By the Pythagorean theorem, $b^2=c^2-a^2=(c-a)(c+a).$ Since $c$ and $a$ are consecutive and $c\gt a,$ we have $c-a=1.$ Hence $b^2=c+a.$

Thus, the correct answer is C.