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The lengths of the legs of right triangle ABC are 3 feet and 4 fett. The shortest side of UVW is 4.5 feet and UVW~ABC. How long is the hypotenuse of UVW?

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Answer:

the hypotenuse of UVW is 7.5ft

Explanation:

the side 3ft long and the side 4.5ft long are corresponding sides

the side 4ft long and the longer leg of ΔUVW are corresponding sides

the hypotenuses of both tringles are corresponding sides

Since the given triangles are similar, their corresponding sides must be proportional and for the sides to be proportional, the shortest side of one triangle must correspond to the shortest side of the other triangle and the longest side of one triangle must correspond to the longest side of the other triangle.

Since the triangles are similar, the ratios of their corresponding sides are equal.

Step 1: Use the proportion and find the length of the longer leg of ΔUVW

long leg/4 = 4.5/3

We cross multiply

3 × long leg = 4.5 × 4

3long leg = 18

Next, we divide 3 on both sides

3long leg/3 = 18/3

Lastly, we simplify

long leg = 6

Now that we know the lengths of both legs of ΔUVW, you can use the Pythagorean formula to find the length of the hypotenuse of the triangle.

a and b = legs

c = hypotenuse

c² = a² + b²

c² = 4.5² + 6²

c² = 20.25 + 36

c² = 56.25

√c² = √56.25

c = 7.5 ft

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