## anonymous 4 years ago Just imagine that this is a right triangle where d is the altitude. Find the values of a, b, c, d. About the Right Triangle Similarity.... |\ Given: a+b = 18 | \ a | \ | /\ 6| / \ | /d \ b | / \ | / \ |/_________\ c Please help me... Thanks

1. anonymous

2. Mertsj

18^2-6^2=c^2 c=12sqrt2

3. anonymous

what? I dont get it..

4. anonymous

there's the picture

5. Mertsj

Use the pythagorean theorem to get c

6. Mertsj

Then redraw all three triangles so they corresponding sides are in corresponding positions.

7. anonymous

what do you mean?

8. Mertsj

do you know the Pythagorean Theorem?

9. anonymous

yeah

10. Mertsj

Use it to find c

11. Mertsj

What did you get?

12. Mertsj

|dw:1327846316363:dw|

13. Mertsj

Use similar triangles to get the other parts.

14. anonymous

how do i get it? I really dont know

15. Mertsj

The pythagorean theorem says the if you square the legs and add those numbers together, you will get the hypotenuse squared. do you know that?

16. anonymous

i'm back

17. anonymous

this is so hard

18. Mertsj

So if you look at the picture I posted, you will see that one leg is 6 and the hypotenuse is 18.

19. Mertsj

Do you understand that much?

20. anonymous

yes

21. Mertsj

So find c by solving this: c^2+6^2 = 18^2

22. Mertsj

And tell me what you get.

23. anonymous

16

24. Mertsj

324-36=288 sqrt288= 12sqrt2 so c is 12sqrt2

25. anonymous

is it right?

26. Mertsj

|dw:1327847562955:dw|

27. anonymous

ok

28. Mertsj

Do you know that right triangles have legs and a hypotenuse?

29. anonymous

30. anonymous

yes

31. Mertsj

Look at the picture. Corresponding parts have equal ratios.so 6/a=18/6 Solve that for a

32. anonymous

is it 2?

33. Mertsj

|dw:1327847690198:dw|

34. Mertsj

Yes. Now find b. You know that a+b=18

35. anonymous

b=16

36. Mertsj

Now find d using your choice of similar triangles of the pythagorean theorem.

37. anonymous

d= 3sqrt2

38. Mertsj

Using the small triangle:$a^2+d^2=6^2$ $2^2+d^2=36$ $d^2=32$ $d=\sqrt{16(2)}$ $d=4\sqrt{2}$

39. anonymous

wow :) thanks can you please help me with one more problem.. i'll just post the image here

40. Mertsj

I'll try

41. anonymous

42. Mertsj

Well, there aren't any numbers given so if you want numerical values there has to be more information.

43. anonymous

ok, so what do we do

44. anonymous

the answer might not be in numerical value

45. Mertsj

Well we could use the pythagorean theorem and leave the answers in terms of x, y , and z

46. anonymous

ok

47. Mertsj

What I really think is that if you would look carefully, you would find sosme values

48. anonymous

how? i'm not good at this..

49. Mertsj

read the directions. Perhaps it says something at the beginning of the problem set.

50. anonymous

nope there isnt any..

51. Mertsj

What class are you taking?

52. anonymous

g

53. anonymous

geometry

54. Mertsj

It helps me know the level of understanding you are supposed to exhibit.

55. Mertsj

So z^2=y^2+(x+1)^2 z=sqrt(y^2+(x+1)^2)

56. anonymous

ok

57. Mertsj

(x+1)^2+y^2=z^2 (x+1)^2=z^2-y^2 x+1=sqrt(z^2-y^2) x=sqrt(z^2-y^2)-1

58. Mertsj

x^2+y^2=(x+2)^2 y^2=(x+2)^2-x^2 y=sqrt[(x+2)^2-x^2]

59. Mertsj

Those will have to do until you find some numerical values.

60. anonymous

ok... thanks :)

61. Mertsj

yw