The sides of a triangle are(x + 4)cm, xcm and (x - 4)cm, respectively If the cosine of the largest angle is 15 1 5 , find the value of x

The sides of a triangle are(x + 4)cm, xcm and (x - 4)cm, respectively If the cosine of the largest angle is $\frac{1}{5}$, find the value of x

Answer Details

< B is the largest since the side facing it is the largest, i.e. (x + 4)cm

Cosine B = $\frac{1}{5}$
= 0.2 given
b2 - a2 + c2 - 2a Cos B
Cos B = $\frac{a^2+c^2-b^2}{2ac}$
$\frac{1}{5}$ = $\frac{x^2+?(x-4{)}^2-(x+4{)}^2}{2x(x-4)}$
$\frac{1}{5}$= $\frac{x(x-16)}{2x(x-4)}$
$\frac{1}{5}$ = $\frac{x-16}{2x-8}$
= 5(x - 16)
= 2x - 8
3x = 72
x = $\frac{72}{3}$
= 24