Question

Points A,B,C,D, and E are collinear and in that order. Find AC if AE = x+50 and CE = x+32.

Answer 1

if AE is x+50, then the whole thing must be x=50.
if a portion of that, CE, is x+32, then the rest of it, AC, must be x+18.
Because no matter what X is, 32+18=50.

Answer 2

AC= 18

Explanation:

It is given that:

Points A,B,C,D, and E are collinear and in that order.

AE = x+50 and CE = x+32.

Now, we know that the length of the line segment AC is equal to the length of the line segment AE minus the length of the line segment CE.

i.e.

AC=AE-CE

i.e.

AC= x+50-(x+32)

AC=x+50-x-32

( Since if the sign before the parentheses is negative then the terms comes out of the parentheses with a opposite sign )

Hence, on combining the like terms we have:

AC=x-x+50-32

AC=0+18

Hence, we get:

AC= 18