Question

What is the value of x? Enter your answer in the box. x = A triangle with midsegment parallel to the base. the left side is labeled 72 cm below the midsegment and 9 cm above the midsegment. the right side is labeled 56 cm below the midsegment and 3 x minus 20 above the midsegment.

Answer 1

A segment is only a "midsegment" if it connects midpoints. When labels above and below are 9 and 72, it is clearly not a midsegment. However, because it is parallel to the base, segments above and below on one side are proportional to those in similar positions on the other side.

72/9 = 56/(3x -20)

We can multiply by (3x -20)/8 to get

3x -20 = 7
3x = 27
x = 9

Answer 2

72/9 = 56/(3x -20)

We can multiply by (3x -20)/8 to get

3x -20 = 7
3x = 27
x = 9