How do you solve for x?

Question

asked Mar 11, 2024 155k views

1 Answer

Soulshined · Answer 1 · 2024-03-17T22:16:27+0000

Answer:

Explanation:

Using little bottom triangle:

y^2=10^2+20^2 (Pythagoras Theorem)

y^2=500

Using big triangle:

y^2+z^2=(10+x)^2 (Pythagoras Theorem)

500+z^2=(10+x)^2 (Since we know
y^2=500 )

500+z^2=x^2+20x+100

z^2=x^2+20x-400
(a)

Using little top triangle:

z^2=x^2+20^2 (Pythagoras Theorem)

z^2=x^2+400
(b)

Substitute
(a) into
(b) :

x^2+20x-400=x^2+400 (since we know both sides
=z^2 )

20x=800

x=40