Question

Find the value of x in the triangle shown below.

Answer 1

x=12

Explanation:

Since this is a right triangle we can use the Pythagorean theorem

a^2 + b^2 = c^2 where a and b are the legs and c is the hypotenuse

9^2 + x^2 = 15^2

81 + x^2 = 225

Subtract 81 from each side

x^2 =225-81

x^2 =144

Take the square root of each side

sqrt(x^2) = sqrt(144)

x=12