Find the missing side

Question

Unfortunately I can't post an image because then the system says it doesn't allow over 30,000? characters I think. So I'll try to describe it as best I can.

Two triangles.

The first triangle's left side is 12.

The base is 20

The second triangle's left side is 3

The base is X.

Find X

Answer 1

Hi Jake,

if you’re working on similar triangles, you should know that the corresponding sides are proportional.

so you could think : if 12 becomes 3, what would 20 become?

12:3= 20:X

Solve:

12/3=20/X

Cross multiplying:

12X=20*3

div by 12

X=5

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

Without at least 3 figures and 1 is to be a side; nothing can be done.