Question

Please help! geometry problem 3!

Answer 1

Comment
|First of all, the triangles are equal by ASA the way the diagram has been marked.

B and E are both right angles.
Side BC = Side DE
<BCA =< EDA 

So triangle BCA = triangle EDA

Now to the letters.
x = y - 1                 Add 1 to both sides.
x + 1 = y                (1)
3x - 2 = 2y + 1       Subtract 1 from both sides.
3x -2 - 1 = 2y
3x - 3 = 2y             Divide by 2
3x/2 - 3/2 = 2y/2
1.5x - 1.5 = y    (2)

Step One
Since (1) and (2) both have y isolated on their respective right sides, they can be equated.

1.5x - 1.5 = x + 1       Take an x from both sides.
0.5x - 1.5 = x - x + 1
0.5x - 1.5 = 1           Add  1.5 to both sides.
0.5x =  1 + 1.5
0.5x = 2.5                 Divide 0.5 on both sides.
0.5x/0.5 = 2.5/0.5

x = 5

Now we need a y value.
x = y - 1 
5 = y - 1 Add 1 to both sides.
5 + 1 = y - 1 + 1
6 = y 

So the 2 sides and the 2 angles are equal when 
x = 5
y = 6

C Answer <<<<<<