SOLUTION: Ahmed has first half of a treasure map, which indicates that the treasure is buried in the desert (2x + 6) paces from Castle Rock. Vanessa has the other half of the map. Her half i

Algebra ->  Customizable Word Problem Solvers  -> Travel -> SOLUTION: Ahmed has first half of a treasure map, which indicates that the treasure is buried in the desert (2x + 6) paces from Castle Rock. Vanessa has the other half of the map. Her half i      Log On

Ad: Over 600 Algebra Word Problems at edhelper.com


   



Question 60112This question is from textbook Elementry and Intermediate Algebra
: Ahmed has first half of a treasure map, which indicates that the treasure is buried in the desert (2x + 6) paces from Castle Rock. Vanessa has the other half of the map. Her half indicates that to find the treasure, one must go to the Castle Rock, walk ‘x’ paces to the North, and then walk (2x + 4) paces to the East. If they share their information, then they can find ‘x’ and save a lot of digging. What is ‘x’? This question is from textbook Elementry and Intermediate Algebra

Answer by 303795(602) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Firstly draw a diagram which will give a right angled triangle with a hypotenuse of (2x+6) and the other two sides of x and (2x+4).
Using the Pythagorean Theorem
%282x%2B6%29%5E2=%282x%2B4%29%5E2%2Bx%5E2%29
4x%5E2%2B24x%2B36=4x%5E2%2B16x%2B16%2Bx%5E2
x%5E2-8x-20=0
%28x%2B2%29%28x-10%29=0
Therefore x=-2 or x=10.
Only a positive distance makes sense so x=10.