3 years ago

Explain why the triangles are similar then find out the distance represented by x

1 answer:

8 0

Because the only difference between them is size so the basic form of the shape remains, having corresponding sides in proportion.

<h2>Explanation:</h2>

Two triangles are similar if the only difference between them is size. Put another way, the basic form of the shape remains. If this is true, then:

Corresponding angles are congruent
Corresponding sides are in proportion

Since you didn't provide any graph, I have attached two similar triangles below. As you can see they are right triangles. As we said, corresponding sides of similar triangles are in proportion, so it is true that:

$\frac{9}{3}=\frac{12}{4}=\frac{x}{5}=3 \\ \\ \therefore \frac{x}{5}=3 \\ \\ \therefore x=5(3) \\ \\ \therefore \boxed{x=15}$