Question

How do I find the X? (sorry the triangle is really small-)

Answer 1

Answer:

  C.  98

Step-by-step explanation:

The sum of angles interior to a triangle is 180°, so you have ...

  x + 38° + 44° = 180° . . . the sum of the angles (this is your equation)

  x + 82° = 180° . . . . . . . . collect terms

  x = 180° -82° . . . . . . . . . subtract 82° from both sides of the equation

  x = 98° . . . . . . . . . . . . . . do the arithmetic

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Comment on the equation

The relations you learn about in math and geometry can all be translated to equations. When you learn "something" is "something else", anytime you have "something", you can always write the equation ...

  something = (something else)

When you find out "the sum of angles" is "180 degrees", that means you can write the equation ...

  (sum of angles) = 180°

Of course, you find a sum by adding things up. In this case, you're adding up the values of the angles: x, 38°, 44°. The next step is to use the rules of algebra to solve the equation for x.