Question

A right angled triangle has hypotenuse 9cm and sides (x+5) and (x-3)cm. calculate x

Answer 1

x= 3.95

Explanation:

Hypotenuse = 9 cm

side = (x+5) cm

other side = (x-3) cm

Pythagoras theorem: Hypotenuse² = Base² + Base²

9² = (x+5)² + (x-3)²

81 = x² + 25 + 10x + x² + 9 - 6x

2x² + 4x - 47 = 0

Quadratic Formula

x = (-b±√b²-4ac) / 2a

x = (-4±√16+376) / 2(2)

x = (3.95 and -5.95)

We ignore the negative -5.95

So x = 3.95