IXL | Similar triangles and indirect measurement

Find s.

4 m

5 m

8 m

Write your answer as a whole number or a decimal. Do not round.

s = meters

ref_doc_title.

Learn with an example

question

Find t.

4 yd

3 yd

6 yd

Write your answer as a whole number or a decimal. Do not round.

t = yards

key idea

The sides of similar triangles are proportional.

solution

The original diagram included a smaller triangle inside a larger triangle. Redraw them as separate triangles.

4 yd

6 yd

3 yd

FBC is similar to

EBD because all three pairs of corresponding angles are congruent.

One
pair
of
corresponding
side
lengths
is
FB
and
EB
.
Together
they
form
the
fraction
FB
EB
.

Another
pair
of
corresponding
side
lengths
is
CF
and
DE
.
Together
they
form
the
fraction
CF
DE
.

In both fractions, the numerator comes from

FBC and the denominator comes from

EBD. Since the triangles are similar, you can use the fractions to set up a proportion and solve for t.

Plug in the side lengths

(

)

(

)

Multiply both sides by 6t

Simplify

Divide both sides by 3

The missing length is 8 yards.

Looking for more? Try these:

Lesson: Similar triangles

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S.8Side lengths and angle measures of similar figures

Lesson: Similar triangles

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