Question

a triangular sail has sides of 10 ft ,24ft,and 26ft .if the shortest side of a similar sail measures 6ft , what is the measure of its longest side?

Answer 1

15.6 ft

Explanation:

Since the sails are similar then the ratios of corresponding sides are equal.

Comparing the shortest sides, that is

10 : 6 = 5 : 3

let the longest side be x, then using proportion

`(26)/(5)` =
`(x)/(3)` ( cross- multiply )

5x = 78 ( divide both sides by 5 )

x = 15.6

The longest side is 15.6 ft