Question

Which equation represents each dimension of the larger triangle, y, based on the corresponding dimension of the smaller triangle, x?

Y= 2/3x
Y= 3x
Y= 1/3x
Y= 3/2x

How can you use the given side lengths of the triangles to check if your equation is correct?

Answer 1

(b) y = 3x; check using dimensions from the figure

Explanation:

The dimensions in the larger triangle are more than the dimensions in the smaller triangle. That means the smaller dimensions need to be multiplied by a value greater than 1 to get the larger dimension. (This eliminates the 1st and 3rd choices.)

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Equation

The figures are drawn approximately to scale, so it is easy to see that the larger triangle's dimensions are more than double (2 times) those of the smaller triangle. (This eliminates the 4th choice. 3/2 < 2)

The equation that represents the larger dimensions in terms of the smaller ones is ...

y = 3x

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Check

You can check this by choosing a smaller dimension and using that in the equation:

bottom leg = 3 in

larger bottom leg = y = 3(3 in) = 9 in . . . . matches the diagram