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How do I solve this geometric problem? (In each diagram, line AB is tangent to center at B. Find the value of x.)

How do I solve this geometric problem? (In each diagram, line AB is tangent to center-example-1
User Jjh
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1 Answer

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Here you would use the Pythagorean theorem which is a² + b² = c²
a would be 8
b would be x
c would be (x + 2) since part of the hypotenuse is 2 and the other part is x.
Now all you have to do is plug in and solve for x:
8² + x² = (x + 2)² remember (x + 2)² is (x + 2)(x + 2)
64 + x² = x² +4x + 4 subtract x² from both sides
64 = 4x + 4 subtract 4 from both sides
60 = 4x divide both sides by 4
15 = x
x is 15!


User Max Meijer
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