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How to solve for x y and z for priblem 31 using ratios

How to solve for x y and z for priblem 31 using ratios-example-1
User Jukebox
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1 Answer

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In total, we have 3 right triangles.

First, we will use the right-handed triangle, composed of sides 36, x, and y. From this triangle, using Pythagoras we have that y²= 36²+x²

From the left-handed triangle, composed of sides 36, 6x and z, using Pythagoras we have that z² = 36²+36x²

From the big triangle, composed of the sides z, y and 7x, using Pythagoras we have that 49x² = y² + z². We can now replace both y² and z² with the expressions we found before, and after that we will have an equation just with the variable x

49x² = 36² + x² + 36² + 36x²

49x² - x² - 36x² = 36² + 36²

12x² = 2592

x² = 216

x ≅ 14.69

With this value for x we can now replace it on the first 2 expressions we found, and by doing this find the values for y and z

y² = 36² + x²

y² = 1296 + 216

y = √1512

y ≅ 38.88

z² = 36² + 36x²

z² = 1296 + 36(216)

z = √9072

z ≅ 95.24

User Derrell
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