Question

Alexa is designing a paper airplane whose final shape, when viewed from the top or bottom, is a trapezoid. A sketch of her plane, viewed from the top, is shown on the left.

What are the dimensions of one of the identical triangular pieces of the plane?
2 cm base, 3 cm height
3 cm base, 3 cm height
3 cm base, 4 cm height
3 cm base, 6 cm height

Answer 1

The correct option is 1. The dimensions of one of the identical triangular pieces of the plane are 2 cm base and 3 cm height.

Explanation:

From the given figure it is noticed that the length of parallel sides of the trapezoid are 6 cm and 2 cm.

The height of triangular pieces is same as the height of trapezoid. So the height of triangular pieces is 3 cm.

Let the measure of base of the triangular pieces be x.

`x+2+x=6`

Combine like terms.

`2x+2=6`

Subtract 2 form both the sides.

`2x+2-2=6-2`

`2x=4`

Divide both sides by 2.

`x=(4)/(2)`

`x=2`

The base of the triangles is 2 cm.

The dimensions of one of the identical triangular pieces of the plane are 2 cm base and 3 cm height. Therefore the correct option is 1.

Answer 2

2 cm base, 3 cm height

Explanation:

Let

x -----> the height of one of the identical triangles pieces of the plane

y ----> the base of one of the identical triangles pieces of the plane

we know that

x=3 cm

2y+2=6

solve for y

2y=6-2

2y=4

y=2 cm

therefore

The dimensions of one of the identical triangles pieces of the plane are 2 cm base and 3 cm height