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Four identical right triangles whose sides measure 5x, 12x, and 13x are arranged to form a small square inside a large square, as shown. The perimeter of the large square is 17 units. What is the perimeter of the small square? Explain.

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Answer:

The perimeter of the small square is approximately 9.154 units

Explanation:

The given parameters are;

The sides of the four identical right triangles = 5·x, 12·x, and 13·x,

The perimeter of the large square = 17 units

Therefore, we have;

The hypotenuse side of the right triangles = The longest side = 13·x

The sides of the large square are formed by the hypotenuse sides of the right triangle

Therefore, the perimeter of the large square = 4 × 13·x = 52·x = 17 units

x = 17/52 ≈ 0.3269

x ≈ 0.3269 units

The sides of the small square = The difference between the longer and the shorter of the two legs = 12·x - 5·x = 7·x

∴ The sides of the small square = 7·x = (7 × 0.3269) units ≈ 2.2885 units

The perimeter of the small square = 4 × The sides of the small square

The perimeter of the small square ≈ (4 × 2.2885) units ≈ 9.154 units

The perimeter of the small square ≈ 9.154 units.

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