Need help please!!! thanks!!!

Question

Use similar triangles and the fact that corresponding sides are proportional to find the length of the side marked with an x.

(i can't post the picture of the triangles but i'll just give the meters)

 

 

- the small triangle's meters are: 20m & 16m

 

- The big triangle's meters are: 40m & 24m

 

x= __ m

 

 

 

 

 

 

Answer 1

The picture will help you a lot!

 

First, you must match corresponding sides of the triangles.  [note: the corresponding angles will be the same]  You may need to rotate and/or flip the triangles.

 

For example, you might get sides of:

     3  :  4  :  5

     9 :   x  :  15

 

Here's is what you should remember:  Like a fraction in lowest terms, a ratio may be reduced to lowest terms (that is, integers) by factoring out an integer from each value.

 

Thus, if the lowest terms ratio is x:y:z, the same ratio exists as:

                                             2x:2y:2z

                                             3x:3y:3z

                                             nx:ny:nz

                                             . . .

 

Now, match the sides of the triangles, find the value for n, then find the value of x.