Question

Find the scale factor, x, and y.

Answer 1

Scale factor is: 1/4

Value of x is: 5

Value of y is: 13

How to find the scale factor?

A scale factor in math is the ratio between corresponding measurements of an object and a representation of that object. It is used to change the size of a geometrical figure or shape with respect to its original size.

The scale factor here will be:

Scale factor = 12/48 = 1/4

Thus:

x/(x + 15) = 1/4

4x = x + 15

3x = 15

x = 5

Similarly:

y/(y + 39) = 1/4

4y = y + 39

3y = 39

y = 13

Answer 2

x = 5 and y = 13

Explanation:

Points to remember

The ratio of of corresponding sides of similar triangles are equal.

From the figure we can see two similar triangle

To find the value of x

x/(x + 15) = 12/48

x/(x + 15) = 1/4

4 * x = x + 15

4x - x = 15

3x = 15

x = 15/3 = 5

To find the value of y

y/(y + 39) = 12/48 = 1/4

4y = y + 39

3y = 39

y = 39/3 = 13

Therefore x = 5 and y = 13