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 [tex]x^2+20^2=25^2[/tex]. Solve for x by isolating the variable on one side: [tex]x^{2} =25^{2} - 20^{2}[/tex] ⇒ [tex]x^{2} = 625 - 400[/tex] ⇒ [tex]x^{2} = 225[/tex] ⇒ [tex]x^{2} =225[/tex] ⇒ [tex]x=\sqrt{225}[/tex] ⇒ [tex]x=15[/tex] inches.
