Question

What is the value of x so that the line segment with endpoints W(x, −2) and X(5, −4) is parallel to the line segment with endpoints Y(2, 2) and Z(5, 6)?
x equals six start fraction one over two end fraction
x = 6
x equals three start fraction one over two end fraction
x = 7

Answer 1

Answer:

x equals six start fraction one over two end fraction

Step-by-step explanation:

Segments which are parallel have the same slope. Find the slope of of YZ. Then using that value, find the slope WX and solve for the value of x.

Slope of YZ is:

$m = \frac{y_2-y_1}{x_2-x_1} = \frac{6-2}{5-2} =\frac{4}{3}$

Since they are parallel, then WX has a slope of 4/3 too.

Slope of WX is:

$m = \frac{y_2-y_1}{x_2-x_1}\\\\\frac{4}{3} = \frac{-4--2}{5-x}\\\\\frac{4}{3} =\frac{-2}{5-x}\\\\ (5-x)\frac{4}{3} = -2\\\\ 20 - 4x = -6\\\\-4x = -26 \\\\ x = 6 \frac{1}{2}$