Question

The longest side of the obtuse measurs 20 cm the two shorter sides measures x cm and 3 x cm rounded to the nearest tenth what is the greatest possible value of x

Answer 1

5

Explanation:

The greatest possible value of x is the one that makes the two unknown sides have a total of 20 (cm).

x + 3x = 20

x = 20/4 = 5

A triangle with x actually equal to 5 will look like a line segment. However, we recognize the answer value is a rounded value, so x may round to 5, but actually be shorter.

The greatest possible value of x is 5.