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can someone please solve this? I clicked on homework help and it wasn't much help. I'm trying to turn in as much missing assignments as I can before school ends on Thursday. Thank you!

can someone please solve this? I clicked on homework help and it wasn't much help-example-1

2 Answers

3 votes
They are similar triangles. Meaning they are the same triangle just different sizes(smaller version of the big one) That means all the proportions are the same so to figure out x you would put it in proportion that would look like x/8= 8/18 (8+10)and you would cross multiply to solve it. So x would equal 3.5 or 32/9
User Ckb
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7 votes

Answer:

  • One proportion to solve is 8/18 = x/8
  • Exact answer as a fraction: x = 32/9
  • Approximate answer in decimal form: x = 3.556

In reality, the 5's go on forever, but we have to round off somewhere.

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Step-by-step explanation:

Break up the triangles as your teacher recommends. See the diagram below as to what I mean.

The smaller triangle has A = 8 as the horizontal side, and B = x as the vertical side

The larger triangle has C = 10+8 = 18 as the horizontal aside, and D = 8 as the vertical side.

We can form the proportion A/C = B/D.

A/C connects the horizontal sides (small/large) while B/D has the vertical sides tied together. The order of division is the same small over large. You could do large over small, but make sure you keep both sides consistent.

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Let's solve for x

A/C = B/D

8/18 = x/8

8*8 = 18*x .... cross multiply

64 = 18x

18x = 64

x = 64/18 .... divide both sides by 18

x = 32/9 exactly in fraction form

x = 3.556 approximately in decimal form

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Another proportion you can solve is A/B = C/D and you should get the same x value. It's the same as A/C = B/D because the B and C swap places. There are many other approaches you could take using different proportions.

can someone please solve this? I clicked on homework help and it wasn't much help-example-1
User Cninroh
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