Right Triangle Area Problem: Solve for X When Area = 6 cm²

Triangle ABC is a right triangle.

The area of the triangle is 6 cm².

Calculate X and the length of the side BC.

S=6S=6S=6444X-1X-1X-1X+1X+1X+1AAACCCBBB

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Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations
00:00 Determine the value of X and calculate BC
00:06 (height(AC) X base (BC)) divided by 2
00:14 Substitute in the relevant values
00:24 Calculate and solve
00:32 Open the parentheses from left to right
00:40 Isolate X
00:47 This is the size of X
00:49 Q.E.D.1
00:52 Substitute X in side BC
00:59 This is the size of BC
01:01 Q.E.D.2
01:04 This is the solution

Step-by-step written solution

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1

Understand the problem

Triangle ABC is a right triangle.

The area of the triangle is 6 cm².

Calculate X and the length of the side BC.

S=6S=6S=6444X-1X-1X-1X+1X+1X+1AAACCCBBB

2

Step-by-step solution

We use the formula to calculate the area of the right triangle:

ACBC2=cateto×cateto2 \frac{AC\cdot BC}{2}=\frac{cateto\times cateto}{2}

And compare the expression with the area of the triangle 6 6

4(X1)2=6 \frac{4\cdot(X-1)}{2}=6

Multiplying the equation by the common denominator means that we multiply by 2 2

4(X1)=12 4(X-1)=12

We distribute the parentheses before the distributive property

4X4=12 4X-4=12 / +4 +4

4X=16 4X=16 / :4 :4

X=4 X=4

We replace X=4 X=4 in the expression BC BC and

find:

BC=X1=41=3 BC=X-1=4-1=3

3

Final Answer

X=4, BC=3

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In a right triangle, the side opposite the right angle is called....?

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