Questions: Finding a missing side length given two similar triangles triangle ABC and triangle XYZ are similar. Find the missing side length. (The triangles are not drawn to scale.)
Transcript text: Finding a missing side length given two similar triangles $\triangle A B C$ and $\triangle X Y Z$ are similar. Find the missing side length. (The triangles are not drawn to scale.)
Solution
Solution Steps
Step 1: Identify Corresponding Sides
Since triangles \( \triangle ABC \) and \( \triangle XYZ \) are similar, their corresponding sides are proportional. Identify the corresponding sides:
\( AB \) corresponds to \( XY \)
\( BC \) corresponds to \( YZ \)
\( AC \) corresponds to \( XZ \)
Step 2: Set Up Proportions
Given:
\( AB = 8 \)
\( XY = 32 \)
\( YZ = 64 \)
\( BC = y \)
Set up the proportion using the corresponding sides:
\[ \frac{AB}{XY} = \frac{BC}{YZ} \]
Step 3: Substitute Known Values
Substitute the known values into the proportion:
\[ \frac{8}{32} = \frac{y}{64} \]
Step 4: Solve for the Missing Side Length
Solve the proportion for \( y \):
\[ \frac{8}{32} = \frac{y}{64} \]
\[ \frac{1}{4} = \frac{y}{64} \]
\[ y = \frac{64}{4} \]
\[ y = 16 \]