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3. GH is the midsegment of AABC. Find the value of x.

A
X =
22 ft
C
x ft,
G
H
B

1 Answer

2 votes

Answer:

Since GH is the midsegment of triangle AABC, it is parallel to side AB and its length is equal to half the length of AB.

Therefore, GH = AB/2.

In terms of x, AB = AC + CB = x + 22.

So GH = (x + 22)/2.

Since GH is also the length of the segment joining the midpoints of sides AC and CB, we can use the midpoint formula to find the coordinates of point H in the coordinate plane.

Let the coordinates of points A, B, and C be (0,0), (AB,0), and (x,GC), respectively.

Then the coordinates of point H are ((0+x)/2, (0+GC)/2) = (x/2, GC/2).

Since GH is perpendicular to AC, the product of their slopes is -1.

The slope of AC is (GC - 0)/(x - 0) = GC/x.

The slope of GH is (0 - GC/2)/(AB/2 - x/2) = -GC/(x+22).

Therefore, we have:

GC/x * (-GC/(x+22)) = -1

Simplifying this equation, we get:

GC^2 = x(x+22)

Substituting GH = GC/2 and GH = (x+22)/2, we get:

(GH)^2 = x(x+22)

Substituting GH = 11, we get:

11^2 = x(x+22)

121 = x^2 + 22x

x^2 + 22x - 121 = 0

Using the quadratic formula, we get:

x = (-22 +/- sqrt(22^2 - 41(-121)))/2

x = (-22 +/- 30)/2

x = 4 or x = -26

Since x represents a length, the only valid solution is x = 4.

Explanation:

User Zorkan Erkan
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