Question

16. What are the values of a and b?

Answer 1

a = 20; b = 2√101

Explanation:

The triangle at upper left and the one at lower right are similar. Ratios of corresponding sides are equal, so ...

200/a = a/2

400 = a^2

√400 = 20 = a

Then, by the Pythagorean theorem, the value of b can be found:

b = √(a^2 + 2^2) = √(400 +4) = √4·√101

b = 2√101