Question

find x

(triangle in the picture below)

Answer 1

Theorem: When the altitude is drawn to the hypotenuse of a right triangle, either leg is the geometric mean between that leg and the segment of the hypotenuse adjacent to that leg and the hypotenuse.

Answer 2

2/x = x /8

Cross multiply and solve for x.

Answer 3

so the answer would be 8=x ?

Answer 4

x times x = 2 times 8
x^2 = 16
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What positve number times itself = 16?

--> It cannot be 8 because 8 times 8 = 64.
You took half of 16 but squaring is not the same as taking half.

Try again.

Answer 5

so it'd be 4?

Answer 6

Yes. That is what I got.

Answer 7

okay, thank you so much! :)

Answer 8

Glad to help.