If ML = 10cm, what is the length of MN...It's a large right triangle with a similar one that's smaller in it, the height of the larger triangle is LP=6 cm (no height for the smaller one), MP = 8cm (the whole base) and just 5cm for MQ base for the smaller triangle and 3cm for QP (the rest of the base)....I know the answer is 6.25cm for MN but how exactly do you get the answer?
2006-09-21 17:46:39 · 4 answers · asked by Kage 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Homework Help
There are two key elements to this problem. First, the two triangles are similar. Second, the fact that the base of the larger is 8 and the smaller is 5. Now you know that all the measurements of the two triangles are proportional, and you know the proportion.
The proportion is simply 5/8 (five eighths or 0.625). Now you can figure out the length of the MN. Just multiply ML by the proportion and you get 6.25.
2006-09-21 18:02:20 · answer #1 · answered by i_sivan 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
in the base, notice that MP = MQ x 8/5
or MQ is five eighths of MP
so find five eighths of 10
2006-09-22 01:28:11 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take the small base over the big base and multiply that by the small hypotenuse being X by the big hypotenuse.
2006-09-22 00:57:54 · answer #3 · answered by happy1 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i can't figure out which angles are where, but you use ratios to figure it out.....the ratio of the large base to the small base should be the same as the ratio of one large leg to the small leg that matches up with it. i'm short on time, but i hope this is enough for you to figure out the solving method.
2006-09-22 00:52:04 · answer #4 · answered by nadrik 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋