Answer:
x = 1.25, y = 1.75
Step-by-step explanation:
The smaller and larger triangles are similar triangles. (the 2 triangles have the same angles).
We know that the smaller triangle has length 8 for it's bottom side when the larger triangle has length 10. This means the scale factor between the 2 is 10 / 8 which is 1.25. Therefore by multiplying the side lengths of the smaller triangle by 1.25 we get the side lengths of the larger triangle.
5 * 1.25 = 6.25
7 * 1.25 = 8.75
However we don't want the whole side lengths we want x and y, We need to subtract 5 and 7 respectively from the lengths of the larger triangles.
Therefore the lengths must be: 6.25 - 5 = 1.25
and 8.75 - 7 = 1.75
Therefore x and y equal 1.25 and 1.75
