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14 votes
14 votes
Given 2x + 3 is the hypotenuse, use the Pythagorean

Theorem to find the length of the side labeled x.

Given 2x + 3 is the hypotenuse, use the Pythagorean Theorem to find the length of-example-1
User Gskalinskii
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1 Answer

21 votes
21 votes

Answer:

24

Explanation:

Given right triangle sides x, 2x-3, and 2x+3, you want to know the length of the side labeled x.

Pythagorean theorem

The Pythagorean theorem tells you the square of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides.

(2x +3)² = (2x -3)² +x²

4x² +12x +9 = 4x² -12x +9 +x²

x² -24x = 0 . . . . . subtract 4x² +12x +9

x(x -24) = 0 ⇒ x = 0 or 24

The length of the side labeled x is 24 units.

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Additional comment

The triangle is an 8-15-17 triangle scaled up by a factor of 3.

User Ruehri
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