Final answer:
The answer requires additional information about the dimensions of the triangle or the specific meanings of x and y. With more context or the meaning of x and y, we can apply the area formula for a right triangle to solve for these variables.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the values of x and y when the smaller triangle has an area of 42cm², we need additional information about the dimensions of the triangle. However, based on the reference information given, if we are referring to the right triangles created by the y-axis bisecting a 24-cm line (with the assumption that this 24-cm line represents the base of the triangles and the triangle sides are of length 5 cm, 12 cm, and 13 cm), we can use the area of a right triangle formula ½ × base × height to find the value of x and/or y if they represent the base or height of the triangle. Given a right triangle with sides of 5 cm and 12 cm, and using the area formula: Area = ½ × base × height, if the base is 12 cm and the height is 5 cm, the area would be ½ × 12 cm × 5 cm = 30 cm².