Geometry: Common Core (15th Edition)

Published by Prentice Hall
ISBN 10: 0133281159
ISBN 13: 978-0-13328-115-6

Chapter 5 - Relationships Within Triangles - 5-2 Perpendicular and Angle Bisectors - Practice and Problem-Solving Exercises - Page 296: 7

Answer

$x = 3$

Work Step by Step

According to the perpendicular bisector theorem, points lying on the perpendicular bisector of a segment are equidistant from the segment's endpoints. In the diagram, we see that $\overline{MB}$ is the perpendicular bisector of $\overline{JK}$; therefore, $M$ is equidistant from $J$ and $K$. $MJ$, thus, is equal to $MK$. We set these two line segments equal to one another to find $x$: $MJ = MK$ Let's plug in what we know: $9x - 18 = 3x$ Add $18$ to both sides of the equation to isolate constants on the right side of the equation: $9x = 3x + 18$ Subtract $3x$ from each side of the equation to isolate the variable on the left side of the equation: $6x = 18$ Divide each side by $6$ to solve for $x$: $x = 3$
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