Question

Value of X. Please give step by step so I understand

Answer 1

Answer:

The value of x is 15.

Step-by-step explanation:

Since the base is 40 inches long, and the two triangles are congruent - both are right triangles and have sides x and their bases equal - you know that each base of a triangle is 20 inches long. Using the Pythagorean Theorem, you can get that $x^2+20^2=25^2$. Solve for x by isolating the variable on one side: $x^{2} =25^{2} - 20^{2}$ ⇒ $x^{2} = 625 - 400$ ⇒ $x^{2} = 225$ ⇒ $x^{2} =225$ ⇒ $x=\sqrt{225}$ ⇒ $x=15$ inches.