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If MN, NO and MO are midsegments, find the perimeter of JKL. (Need a step by step explanation.)

If MN, NO and MO are midsegments, find the perimeter of JKL. (Need a step by step-example-1
User Glueon
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1 Answer

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Answer: 276 units

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Step-by-step explanation:

You have the right idea by saying that 2MO = KL which leads to the equation 2(6x-1) = 13x-10. That equation correctly solves to x = 8. In short, everything on your paper so far looks good.

Now use that x value to find the lengths of MO and KL

  • MO = 6x-1 = 6*8-1 = 48-1 = 47
  • KL = 13x-10 = 13*8-10 = 104-10 = 94

The jump from MO = 47 to KL = 94 is exactly "times 2". This helps confirm you have the correct x solution.

Because the midsegment MO doubles to KL, the same can be said about the other midsegments. Midsegment MN = 49 doubles to LJ = 98. Also, midsegment NO = 42 doubles to JK = 84. Each midsegment is parallel to the side it doubles to.

Once we know that,

  • JK = 84
  • KL = 94
  • LJ = 98

we then add up the three sides to get the perimeter of triangle JKL

perimeter = JK + KL + LJ

perimeter = 84 + 94 + 98

perimeter = 276

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Here's another approach:

Use the value of x to find side MO

MO = 6x-1 = 6*8-1 = 47

Then we can say,

perimeter of MNO = MN+NO+OM = 49 + 42 + 47 = 138

We double this smaller perimeter value to get 2*138 = 276 which is the perimeter of triangle JKL.

This works because we're doubling each midsegment to get the corresponding longer parallel side

perimeter of JKL = JK + KL + LJ

perimeter of JKL = 2*NO + 2*MO + 2*MN

perimeter of JKL = 2*(NO + MO + MN)

perimeter of JKL = 2*(perimeter of MNO)

User Constellates
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