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1 vote
Right angle triangle
8x - 21
3x-7
6x


Finds value of x

1 Answer

1 vote

Explanation:

Pythagoras :

c² = a² + b²

the only problem : we don't know which one of the 3 expressions is the longest side (= c = Hypotenuse).

let's try with 8x -21

(8x - 21)² = (3x - 7)² + (6x)²

64x² - 336x + 441 = 9x² - 42x + 49 + 36x²

19x² - 294x + 392 = 0

the general solution to such a quadratic equation is

x = (-b ± sqrt(b² - 4ac))/(2a)

in our case

a = 19

b = -294

c = 392

x = (294 ± sqrt(86436 - 4×19×392))/(2×19) =

= (294 ± sqrt(56644))/38 =

= (294 ± 238)/38

x1 = (294 + 238)/38 = 532/38 = 14

x2 = (294 - 238)/38 = 56/38 = 28/19 = 1.473684211...

I assume, we are looking for a whole number solution.

so, x = 14 is the solution.

User Jpastuszek
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