Which set of numbers can represent the side lengths, in inches, of an acute triangle? 4, 5, 7 5, 7, 8 6, 7, 10 7, 9, 12

There are several ways you can answer this. The law of cosines may be helpful. It tells you

... c² = a² + b² - 2ab·cos(C)

or

... cos(C) = (a² + b² - c²)/(2ab)

If this value is negative, then angle C is obtuse. Since 2ab is always positive, it amounts to finding the sign of

... a² + b² - c²

Of course, for repetitive calculations, a spreasheet or other machine evaluator is helpful.

The results shown in the figure indicate that side lengths {5, 7, 8} result in an acute triangle.

hi

step-by-step explanation:

(2 x^3 + 7 x^2 + 5 x + 2)/(x (x + 2))

step-by-step explanation:

simplify the following:

x/x^2 + 3 x + 2 - (x (x + 1))/(x + 2)

combine powers. x/x^2 = x^(1 - 2):

x^(1 - 2) + 3 x + 2 - (x (x + 1))/(x + 2)

1 - 2 = -1:

x^(-1) + 3 x + 2 - (x (x + 1))/(x + 2)

put each term in 1/x + 3 x + 2 - (x (x + 1))/(x + 2) over the common denominator x (x + 2): 1/x + 3 x + 2 - (x (x + 1))/(x + 2) = (x + 2)/(x (x + 2)) + (3 x^2 (x + 2))/(x (x + 2)) + (2 x (x + 2))/(x (x + 2)) - (x^2 (x + 1))/(x (x + 2)):

(x + 2)/(x (x + 2)) + (3 x^2 (x + 2))/(x (x + 2)) + (2 x (x + 2))/(x (x + 2)) - (x^2 (x + 1))/(x (x + 2))

(x + 2)/(x (x + 2)) + (3 x^2 (x + 2))/(x (x + 2)) + (2 x (x + 2))/(x (x + 2)) - (x^2 (x + 1))/(x (x + 2)) = ((x + 2) + 3 x^2 (x + 2) + 2 x (x + 2) - x^2 (x + 1))/(x (x + 2)):

(2 + x + 3 x^2 (x + 2) + 2 x (x + 2) - x^2 (x + 1))/(x (x + 2))

3 x^2 (x + 2) = 3 x^3 + 6 x^2:

(2 + x + 3 x^3 + 6 x^2 + 2 x (x + 2) - x^2 (x + 1))/(x (x + 2))

2 x (x + 2) = 2 x^2 + 4 x:

(2 + x + 6 x^2 + 3 x^3 + 2 x^2 + 4 x - x^2 (x + 1))/(x (x + 2))

-x^2 (x + 1) = -x^2 - x^3:

(-x^2 - x^3 + 3 x^3 + 6 x^2 + 2 x^2 + 4 x + x + 2)/(x (x + 2))

grouping like terms, 3 x^3 - x^3 + 6 x^2 + 2 x^2 - x^2 + 4 x + x + 2 = (3 x^3 - x^3) + (6 x^2 + 2 x^2 - x^2) + (x + 4 x) + 2:

((3 x^3 - x^3) + (6 x^2 + 2 x^2 - x^2) + (x + 4 x) + 2)/(x (x + 2))

3 x^3 - x^3 = 2 x^3:

(2 x^3 + (6 x^2 + 2 x^2 - x^2) + (x + 4 x) + 2)/(x (x + 2))

6 x^2 + 2 x^2 - x^2 = 7 x^2:

(2 x^3 + 7 x^2 + (x + 4 x) + 2)/(x (x + 2))

x + 4 x = 5 x:

answer:   (2 x^3 + 7 x^2 + 5 x + 2)/(x (x + 2))