Question

The triangles are similar.
What is the value of x?
Enter your answer in the box.

Answer 1

x = 4

Explanation:

We can look at the hypotenuse of both the triangles to find the factor that we multiply by. (In similar triangles, corresponding sides are always in the same ratio)

Big triangle:little triangle

25:5

5:1

So, we have to multiply the corresponding side of the little triangle by 5 to get an equivalent value.

Solve for x:

3x+8 = 4(5) [ratio!!]

3x+8 = 20

(subtract 8 from both sides)

3x = 12

(divide both sides by 3)

x = 4

Thus, we have our answer!