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8.7 Solve proportion and similar figure applications  (Page 4/8)

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Δ A B C is similar to Δ X Y Z . The lengths of two sides of each triangle are given in the figure.

The above image shows two similar triangles. The smaller triangle is labeled A B C. The length of two sides is given for the smaller triangle A B C. The length from A to B is 17. The length from B to C is a. The length from C to D is 15. The larger triangle is labeled X Y Z. The length is given for two sides. The length from X to Y is 25.5. The length from Y to Z is 12. The length from Z to X is y.

Find the length of side a .

8

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Δ A B C is similar to Δ X Y Z . The lengths of two sides of each triangle are given in the figure.

Find the length of side y .

22.5

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The next example shows how similar triangles are used with maps.

On a map, San Francisco, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles form a triangle whose sides are shown in the figure below. If the actual distance from Los Angeles to Las Vegas is 270 miles find the distance from Los Angeles to San Francisco.

The above image shows two similar triangles and how they are used with maps. The smaller triangle on the left shows San Francisco, Las Vegas and Los Angeles on the three points. San Francisco to Los Angeles is 1.3 inches. Los Angeles to Las Vegas is 1 inch. Las Vegas to San Francisco is 2.1 inches. The second larger triangle shows the same points. The distance from San Francisco to Los Angeles is x. The distance from Los Angeles to Las Vegas is 270 miles. The distance from Las Vegas to San Francisco is not noted.

Solution

Read the problem. Draw the figures and label with the given information. The figures are shown above.
Identify what we are looking for. The actual distance from Los Angeles to San Francisco.
Name the variables. Let x = distance from Los Angeles to San Francisco.
Translate into an equation. Since the triangles
are similar, the corresponding sides are
proportional. We'll make the numerators
"miles" and the denominators "inches."		 .
Solve the equation. .
.
Check.
On the map, the distance from Los Angeles to
San Francisco is more than the distance from
Los Angeles to Las Vegas. Since 351 is more
than 270 the answer makes sense.
.
Answer the question. The distance from Los Angeles to San Francisco is 351 miles.

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On the map, Seattle, Portland, and Boise form a triangle whose sides are shown in the figure below. If the actual distance from Seattle to Boise is 400 miles, find the distance from Seattle to Portland.

The above image is a triangle with one side labeled “Seattle, 4.5 inches”. The other side is labeled “Portland 3.5 inches”. The third side is labeled 1.5 inches. The vertex is labeled “Boise.”

150 miles

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Using the map above, find the distance from Portland to Boise.

350 miles

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We can use similar figures    to find heights that we cannot directly measure.

Tyler is 6 feet tall. Late one afternoon, his shadow was 8 feet long. At the same time, the shadow of a tree was 24 feet long. Find the height of the tree.

Solution

Read the problem and draw a figure. .
We are looking for h , the height of the tree.
We will use similar triangles to write an equation.
The small triangle is similar to the large triangle. .
Solve the proportion. .
Simplify. .
Check.
Tyler's height is less than his shadow's length so it makes
sense that the tree's height is less than the length of its shadow.
.

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A telephone pole casts a shadow that is 50 feet long. Nearby, an 8 foot tall traffic sign casts a shadow that is 10 feet long. How tall is the telephone pole?

40 feet

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A pine tree casts a shadow of 80 feet next to a 30-foot tall building which casts a 40 feet shadow. How tall is the pine tree?

60 feet

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Key concepts

  • Property of Similar Triangles
    • If Δ A B C is similar to Δ X Y Z , then their corresponding angle measures are equal and their corresponding sides are in the same ratio.
  • Problem Solving Strategy for Geometry Applications
    1. Read the problem and make sure all the words and ideas are understood. Draw the figure and label it with the given information.
    2. Identify what we are looking for.
    3. Name what we are looking for by choosing a variable to represent it.
    4. Translate into an equation by writing the appropriate formula or model for the situation. Substitute in the given information.
    5. Solve the equation using good algebra techniques.
    6. Check the answer in the problem and make sure it makes sense.
    7. Answer the question with a complete sentence.

Questions & Answers

how did you get 1640
Noor Reply
If auger is pair are the roots of equation x2+5x-3=0
Peter Reply
Wayne and Dennis like to ride the bike path from Riverside Park to the beach. Dennis’s speed is seven miles per hour faster than Wayne’s speed, so it takes Wayne 2 hours to ride to the beach while it takes Dennis 1.5 hours for the ride. Find the speed of both bikers.
MATTHEW Reply
420
Sharon
from theory: distance [miles] = speed [mph] × time [hours] info #1 speed_Dennis × 1.5 = speed_Wayne × 2 => speed_Wayne = 0.75 × speed_Dennis (i) info #2 speed_Dennis = speed_Wayne + 7 [mph] (ii) use (i) in (ii) => [...] speed_Dennis = 28 mph speed_Wayne = 21 mph
George
Let W be Wayne's speed in miles per hour and D be Dennis's speed in miles per hour. We know that W + 7 = D and W * 2 = D * 1.5. Substituting the first equation into the second: W * 2 = (W + 7) * 1.5 W * 2 = W * 1.5 + 7 * 1.5 0.5 * W = 7 * 1.5 W = 7 * 3 or 21 W is 21 D = W + 7 D = 21 + 7 D = 28
Salma
Devon is 32 32​​ years older than his son, Milan. The sum of both their ages is 54 54​. Using the variables d d​ and m m​ to represent the ages of Devon and Milan, respectively, write a system of equations to describe this situation. Enter the equations below, separated by a comma.
Aaron Reply
find product (-6m+6) ( 3m²+4m-3)
SIMRAN Reply
-42m²+60m-18
Salma
what is the solution
bill
how did you arrive at this answer?
bill
-24m+3+3mÁ^2
Susan
i really want to learn
Amira
I only got 42 the rest i don't know how to solve it. Please i need help from anyone to help me improve my solving mathematics please
Amira
Hw did u arrive to this answer.
Aphelele
hi
Bajemah
-6m(3mA²+4m-3)+6(3mA²+4m-3) =-18m²A²-24m²+18m+18mA²+24m-18 Rearrange like items -18m²A²-24m²+42m+18A²-18
Salma
complete the table of valuesfor each given equatio then graph. 1.x+2y=3
Jovelyn Reply
x=3-2y
Salma
y=x+3/2
Salma
Hi
Enock
given that (7x-5):(2+4x)=8:7find the value of x
Nandala
3x-12y=18
Kelvin
please why isn't that the 0is in ten thousand place
Grace Reply
please why is it that the 0is in the place of ten thousand
Grace
Send the example to me here and let me see
Stephen
A meditation garden is in the shape of a right triangle, with one leg 7 feet. The length of the hypotenuse is one more than the length of one of the other legs. Find the lengths of the hypotenuse and the other leg
Marry Reply
how far
Abubakar
cool u
Enock
state in which quadrant or on which axis each of the following angles given measure. in standard position would lie 89°
Abegail Reply
hello
BenJay
hi
Method
I am eliacin, I need your help in maths
Rood
how can I help
Sir
hmm can we speak here?
Amoon
however, may I ask you some questions about Algarba?
Amoon
hi
Enock
what the last part of the problem mean?
Roger
The Jones family took a 15 mile canoe ride down the Indian River in three hours. After lunch, the return trip back up the river took five hours. Find the rate, in mph, of the canoe in still water and the rate of the current.
cameron Reply
Shakir works at a computer store. His weekly pay will be either a fixed amount, $925, or $500 plus 12% of his total sales. How much should his total sales be for his variable pay option to exceed the fixed amount of $925.
mahnoor Reply
I'm guessing, but it's somewhere around $4335.00 I think
Lewis
12% of sales will need to exceed 925 - 500, or 425 to exceed fixed amount option. What amount of sales does that equal? 425 ÷ (12÷100) = 3541.67. So the answer is sales greater than 3541.67. Check: Sales = 3542 Commission 12%=425.04 Pay = 500 + 425.04 = 925.04. 925.04 > 925.00
Munster
difference between rational and irrational numbers
Arundhati Reply
When traveling to Great Britain, Bethany exchanged $602 US dollars into £515 British pounds. How many pounds did she receive for each US dollar?
Jakoiya Reply
how to reduced echelon form
Solomon Reply
Jazmine trained for 3 hours on Saturday. She ran 8 miles and then biked 24 miles. Her biking speed is 4 mph faster than her running speed. What is her running speed?
Zack Reply
d=r×t the equation would be 8/r+24/r+4=3 worked out
Sheirtina
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Source:  OpenStax, Elementary algebra. OpenStax CNX. Jan 18, 2017 Download for free at http://cnx.org/content/col12116/1.2
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