Answer:
h/x = y/h . . . (one of 4 possible solutions; see below)
Step-by-step explanation:
You will note that when
a/b = c/d
is cross-multiplied, you get ...
ad = bc
That is, the product of the "outer" variables (a, d) is equal to the product of the "inner" variables (b, c). You may see this referred to sometimes as "the product of the <em>means</em> (inner variables) is equal to the product of the <em>extremes</em> (outer variables)."
Your expression
h² = xy
tells you that h can be written as the outer variables, and x and y can be written as the inner variables (or vice versa). As long as you are consistent in your use of variables as "inner" or "outer", it does not matter where you put them. There are 4 ways this expression can be written as a proportion:
- h/x = y/h
- h/y = x/h
- x/h = h/y
- y/h = h/x
Any of them is suitable for the proof you will be outlining.
