Question

Determine the value of each variable in the figure below. Keep answers in simplest radical form.

Answer 1

Answer:

  a = 21

  b = 63

  c = 42√3

  d = 21√3

Step-by-step explanation:

The sides of a 30°-60°-90° triangle have the ratios 1 : √3 : 2. The given side (42) is the longest side of the smallest triangle, and the shortest side of the largest triangle.

That means the other sides of the smallest triangle will be ...

  a = 42/2 = 21

  a+b = 2(42) = 84

  b = (a+b) -a = 84 -21 = 63

  d = 21√3 . . . . middle-length side of the smallest triangle

  c = 42√3 . . . . middle-length side of the largest triangle

The values of the variables are ...

• a = 21
• b = 63
• c = 42√3
• d = 21√3