The legs of a right triangle are 4cm and x cm. the hypotenuse is (2x-1)cm. what is x?

x = 3

Step-by-step explanation:

Using Pythagoras' theorem on the right triangle, then

(2x - 1)² = 4² + x² ← expand parenthesis on the left side and simplify

4x² - 4x + 1 = 16 + x² ( subtract 16 + x² from both sides )

3x² - 4x - 15 = 0 ← in standard form

Consider the factors of the product of the coefficient of the x² term and the constant term which sum to give the coefficient of the x- term

product = 3 × - 15 = - 45 and sum = - 4

The factors are - 9 and + 5

Use these factors to split the x- term

3x² - 9x + 5x - 15 = 0 ( factor the first/second and third/fourth terms )

3x(x - 3) + 5(x - 3) ← factor out (x - 3)

(x - 3)(3x + 5) = 0

Equate each factor to zero and solve for x

x - 3 = 0 ⇒ x = 3

3x + 5 = 0 ⇒ 3x = - 5 ⇒ x = -

However, x must be greater than zero

Hence x = 3 cm

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step-by-step explanation:

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