Question

A sculptor is designing her new triangular masterpiece. In her scale​ drawing, the shortest side of the triangular piece to be made measures 4 cm.  The longest side of the drawing measures 34 cm.  The longest side of the actual triangular piece to be sculpted must be 16.9 m long. How long will the shortest side of this piece​ be?

Answer 1

The shortest side will be 198.82 cm (1.98 m) long

Explanation:

This problem can be solved using proportions.

First we have that:

Shortest side in scale drawing = 4 cm

Longest side in scale drawing = 34 cm

Shortest side in actual piece = x cm

Longest side in actual piece = 16.9 m, but we know that 1 meter = 100 cm, therefore 16.9 meters would be 16.9 x 100 = 1690 cms.

Now we write down the proportion and solve for x

`(4)/(x)=(34)/(1690)  \\x=(4(1690))/(34) \\x=(6760)/(34)\\ x=198.82`

Therefore, the shortest side of piece will be 198.82 cm. (or 1.98 meters long)