Answer and Step-by-step explanation:
We can use two methods to find the length of AC.
First method is the Pythagorean Theorem method.
The Pythagorean Theorem Formula is:
![a^2 + b^2 = c^2](https://img.qammunity.org/2022/formulas/mathematics/high-school/j4z41hjxubsqkqwany0n0kaakzwutve7q3.png)
Where:
a and b = are sides of a triangle
c = the hypotenuse
Plug in the values:
![3^2 + (AC)^2 = 5^2\\\\\\\\9 + (AC)^2 = 25\\\\\\\(AC)^2 = 16\\\\\\AC = 4](https://img.qammunity.org/2022/formulas/mathematics/high-school/zq505b26vui4gdkkdr8r21yqfg4qnzem55.png)
That means the length of side AC is equal to 4.
Background knowledge also tells us that this is a 3 4 5 triangle, because we have a 5 as the hypotenuse and a 3 for one of the sides.
Second method involving Similarity
We are told that the triangles are similar, which means that one of the triangle id a dilated version of the other, and vise versa.
We can find out the scale factor for these triangles by dividing the corresponding side lengths (which we will be using the hypotenuses).
20 divided by 5 = 4
If we divide the corresponding side of AC by 4, it will result in our answer.
16 divided by 4 = 4.
So, AC = 4
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