Question

What is the value of x in the diagram below? х 15 7 20 0 15 0 24 26 0 28

Answer 1

To answer this question, we can use the Pythagorean Theorem twice to find a side of the shared side of both triangles, and then to find the side x.

Finding the measure of the shared side

We can apply the Pythagorean Theorem as follows:

`h^2=15^2+20^2\Rightarrow h^2=225+400\Rightarrow h^2=625\Rightarrow\sqrt[]{h^2}=\sqrt[]{625}\Rightarrow h=25`

Therefore, the shared side measures 25 units. With this side, then, we can find the side h (hypotenuse) of the other triangle also using the Pythagorean Theorem:

`h^2=x^2+7^2\Rightarrow25^2=x^2+49\Rightarrow625=x^2+49`

Then, we have, subtracting 49 to both sides of the equation:

`625-49=x^2+49-49\Rightarrow576=x^2\Rightarrow\sqrt[]{x^2}=\sqrt[]{576}\Rightarrow x=24`

Therefore, the value for x is equal to 24 units (second option).