Question

These two triangles are similar. What are a and b? Note: the two figures are not drawn to scale. Please help with this!!!

Answer 1

9514 1404 393

Answer:

• a = 6
• b = 22.5

Explanation:

The ratio of smallest sides in the two triangles is ...

smaller / larger = 4/10

To find A and B, we write proportions involving corresponding side lengths.

__

Side A in the smaller triangle is ...

A/15 = 4/10

A = (4/10)(15) = 6

__

The ratio of larger to smaller is the inverse of the above ratio, so ...

B/9 = 10/4

B = (10/4)(9) = 22.5