Question

Base=30cm
Heights=20cm
Find the X?

Answer 1

x = 25 cm

Explanation:

Given the triangle is isosceles ( 2 equal sides )

Then the line from the vertex is a perpendicular bisector of the base

We can use Pythagoras' identity on the right triangle

The square on the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares on the other 2 sides.

where x is the hypotenuse and the legs are 15 and 20, so

x² = 15² + 20² = 225 + 400 = 625

Take the square root of both sides

x =
`√(625)` = 25

Answer 2

Answer: 25

Assuming the dotted line touches the middle of the base of the triangle,

Using Pythagoras Theorem,

(30/2)^2 + (20)^2 = x^2

x^2 = (15)^2 + 400

x^2 = 625

x = √625 or -(√625)

x = 25 or -25

But since x needs to be a positive value,

x = 25