Question

What is the value of x in the diagram?

A right angled triangle with base 2x+2, altitude x and hypotenuse 2x+3.

Answer 1

x = 5

Explanation:

x² + (2x+2)² = (2x+3)²

x² + 4x² + 8x + 4 = 4x² + 12x + 9

x² - 4x - 5 = 0

(x - 5)(x + 1) = 0

x = -1 This can be discounted as the answer because you cannot have a negative length

answer: x = 5