Question

Given the information below, what is XY in centimeters?

Show all necessary work. ( final solution should be numeric.)

Answer 1

Refer the image attached:

Now, as the question says length of WZ = 28 cm

Length of WX =
`(a+1)` cm

Length of YZ =
`(2a+1)` cm

Lets say the length of XY = K cm (Refer the image attached)

Now,

Length of WZ = length of WX+ length of XY+ length of YZ

Now, Y is the mid-point of XZ. So the length XY must be equal to the length YZ.

Now,
`XY=K= (2a+1)`

So,

The total length that is the length of WZ should be equal to:

`WX+XY+YZ=(a+1)+(2a+1)+(2a+1)`

`28= a+1+2a+1+2a+1`

Solving for 'a', we get:

`28=5a+3`

`5a=28-3`

`5a=25`

`a=(25)/(5) =5`

Now that we have the value of 'a', we can find the length of the mid-section that is XY.

`XY=(2a+1)=2 * 5+1=10+1=11`

So, the length of XY is 11 centimeters.