Question

How do you solve this?

Answer 1

Answer:

  x = y = (15/2)√2

Step-by-step explanation:

You can recognize this as an isosceles right triangle, so x=y. They Pythagorean theorem then tells you that ...

  15² = x² + x²

  225/2 = x²

  √(225/2) = x = √(225·2/4) = (15/2)√2

The solution is x = y = (15/2)√2.

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Comment on isosceles right triangles

It is worth remembering that the ratio of sides of an isosceles right triangle is ... side : side : hypotenuse = 1 : 1 : √2.

Knowing this lets you write down the solution to this problem as ...

  x = y = 15/√2

Of course, the denominator of this fraction can be rationalized by multiplying the fraction by (√2)/(√2) to get (15√2)/2 or (15/2)√2.