Question

The answer choices are A.)x=12 and y=21.6B.)x=8 and y=26C.)x=12 and y=30D.)x=8 and y =19.7

Answer 1

We have two right triangles, in order to find the missing sides we will use the Pythagorean Theorem

$c^2=a^2+b^2$

For the little one we have

c=20

a=16

b=x

we substitute the values

$20^2=16^2+x^2$

we isolate the x

$x=\sqrt[]{20^2-16^2}$$x=12$

Then for the bigger triangle

c=y

a=18

b=12

we substitute the variables

$y^2=18^2+12^2$

we isolate the y

$y=\sqrt[]{18^2+12^2}$$y=21.6$

As we can see the correct choice is A. x=12 and y=21.6