The sides of a triangle are $ (x + 4)\text{cm} $, $ x\text{cm} $ and $ (x - 4)\text{cm} $, respectively If the cosine of the largest angle is \( \frac...

Assessment: JAMB UTME - Mathematics - 1984 Subject: General Mathematics

Question 1 Report

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

24cm

20cm

28cm

7cm

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 = $\frac{a^{2} + c^{2} - b^{2}}{2 a c}$
$\frac{1}{5}$ = $\frac{x^{2} + ? (x - 4)^{2} - (x + 4)^{2}}{2 x (x - 4)}$
$\frac{1}{5}$ = $\frac{x (x - 16)}{2 x (x - 4)}$
$\frac{1}{5}$ = $\frac{x - 16}{2 x - 8}$
= 5(x - 16)
= 2x - 8
3x = 72
x = $\frac{72}{3}$
= 24

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The sides of a triangle are \( (x + 4)\text{cm} \), \( x\text{cm} \) and \( (x - 4)\text{cm} \), respectively If the cosine of the largest angle is \( \frac...

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The sides of a triangle are \( (x + 4)\text{cm} \), \( x\text{cm} \) and \( (x - 4)\text{cm} \), respectively If the cosine of the largest angle is \( \frac...

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