SOLUTION: Can you please show me how to find y? [IMG]http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n168/daddygirl411/math.jpg[/IMG] i already know that x=8 because: since the small triangle is a rig

Algebra ->  Circles -> SOLUTION: Can you please show me how to find y? [IMG]http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n168/daddygirl411/math.jpg[/IMG] i already know that x=8 because: since the small triangle is a rig      Log On


   

Question 92596: Can you please show me how to find y?
[IMG]http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n168/daddygirl411/math.jpg[/IMG]
i already know that x=8 because:
since the small triangle is a right triangle i can use the pythagorean theorem to find the missing length of triangle. 5^2-3^2=16 THE square root of 16 is 4. Sine x is 2x the length of the small triangle, i can conclude that x=8.
But i don't know how to get y!
can you please help me!
P.S. if the you don't see the picture of the circle then here is a url:
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n168/daddygirl411/math.jpg
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Since it's hard to tell where the triangle lies, I'm going to assume that the the line segments labeled "5" and "3" originate from the center. This means that the radius is 5 units. So if this assumption is correct (it may not be), then the radius is also equal to 3%2By (which is the total length of the horizontal line segment).

Since the radius is 3%2By and 5 units, this means they are equal like this:

3%2By=5 Set the radius measures equal to each other

y=2 Subtract 3 from both sides


So y is 2 units. Remember, I'm assuming that these lengths make up the radii. If this assumption is incorrect, let me know.