Question

Imagine the triangle described by the points (−3,6), (x,6), and (x,y) where x>−3 and y>6. Write an expression for the length of the horizontal leg in terms of x?

a) x+3
b) x−3
c) 6−x
d) 6+x

Answer 1

The length of the horizontal leg in terms of x is x+3, which is derived from subtracting the x-coordinate of the first point from the x-coordinate of the second point on the horizontal line.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student has a mathematics question about finding the length of a leg of a triangle given its coordinates. The first point of the triangle is (-3,6), the second point has a y-coordinate of 6 and an x-coordinate greater than -3, and the third point has coordinates (x,y) where y>6. The horizontal leg can be determined by the difference in the x-coordinates of the two points on the horizontal line, which are (-3,6) and (x,6).

To find the length of the horizontal leg which lies along the y=6 line, we just subtract the x-coordinate of the first point from the x-coordinate of the second point:

Length = x - (-3) = x + 3

Therefore, the length of the horizontal leg in terms of x is x+3.