Question

Value of X. Please give step by step so I understand

Answer 1

The value of x is 15.

Explanation:

Since the base is 40 inches long, and the two triangles are congruent - both are right triangles and have sides x and their bases equal - you know that each base of a triangle is 20 inches long. Using the Pythagorean Theorem, you can get that
`x^2+20^2=25^2`. Solve for x by isolating the variable on one side:
`x^(2) =25^(2) - 20^(2)` ⇒
`x^(2) = 625 - 400` ⇒
`x^(2) = 225` ⇒
`x^(2) =225` ⇒
`x=√(225)` ⇒
`x=15` inches.