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geometrysolve for x and y: geometric meanset proportions and then solveplease help, i'm strugglingstep by step answers+ explanations would be greatly appreciated

geometrysolve for x and y: geometric meanset proportions and then solveplease help-example-1
User Marek Jagielski
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2.4k points

1 Answer

26 votes
26 votes

Because we have similar triangles we can assume the angle in green (angle theta) is equal

Using a trigonometric expression we can assume the next equality


(x)/(8)=(3)/(x)

We need to clear x


\begin{gathered} x^2=3(8) \\ x^2=24 \\ x=\sqrt[]{24}=2\sqrt[]{6} \end{gathered}

then we can calculate y using the Pythagorean theorem


\begin{gathered} y^2=x^2+3^2=24+9=33 \\ y=\sqrt[]{33} \end{gathered}

geometrysolve for x and y: geometric meanset proportions and then solveplease help-example-1
User Holger Will
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2.8k points