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| Question 490208:  K is between J and L  JK=2x^2+3   KL=7x+4   JL=2x+10  Find JK
 I have solved to 2x^2+5X=3, but that makes no sense and am lost.  Thanks for any help.
 Answer by Theo(13342)
      (Show Source): 
You can put this solution on YOUR website! K is between J and L this means that JK + KL = JL
 
 JK is equal to 2x^2 + 3
 KL is equal to 7x+4
 JL is equal to 2x+10
 
 since JK + KL = JL, this means that:
 2x^2 + 3 + 7x+4 = 2x+10
 
 you want to solve for x.
 once you solve for x, then you can solve for the value of JK.
 
 your equation to work with is:
 2x^2 + 3 + 7x + 4 = 2x + 10
 subtract 2x from both sides of the equation and subtract 10 from both sides of the equation to get:
 2x^2 + 3 + 7x + 4 - 2x - 10 = 0
 combine like terms to get:
 2x^2 + 5x - 3 = 0
 this is a quadratic equation that can be solved for the value of x.
 the factors to this equation are:
 (2x - 1) * (x + 3) = 0
 this equation is true if (2x - 1) = 0 or (x + 3) = 0 or both are equal to 0.
 solving for 2x - 1 = 0 gets x = 1/2
 solving for x + 3 = 0 gets x = -3
 
 since we are talking about the length of JK, KL, AND JL, then the length must be positive so the only answer that is acceptable is x = 1/2
 
 when x = 1/2, we get:
 
 JK = 2x^2 + 3 which results in JK = 3.5
 KL = 7x + 4 which results in KL = 7.5
 JL = 2x + 10 which results in JL = 11
 
 since JK + KL = JL, then we should get 11 = 11
 JK + KL = 3.5 + 7.5 = 11
 we're good.
 
 the value of x is confirmed as good which results in JK = 3.5 which answers the question.
 
 
 
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