Question

Similar Triangles

In the figure below, AB has length 6 feet, BC has length 8 feet and CD has length 7 feet.
If angles B and D are right angles, what is the length of DE rounded to the nearest tenth foot?

Answer 1

5.3 ft

Explanation:

Because CD corresponds to BC, the scale factor from triangle ABC to triangle CDE, is 7/8. Now, DE corresponds to AB, so to get DE, we must multiply the value of AB by 7/8. 6 times 7/8 is 5.25, and rounding to the nearest tenth of a foot, the value of DE is 5.3.