document.write( "Question 995807: Need some explanation on how this is solved.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "An isosceles triangle has base 7 and height 14. Find the maximum possible area of a rectangle that can be placed inside the triangle with one side on the base of the triangle. (Hint: Similar triangles may be of assistance.) \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Area[max] = \r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "I had help on solving this but was confused by the answer. I know that an isosceles triangle is one with two equal sides. What I am confused on how this answer was derived. What exactly is happening here? how are \"compare ratios\" being implemented et cetera\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"+%28x%2F2%29%2F+%287%2F2%29+\" = \"+%2814-y%29%2F+14+\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"+y+=+14-2x+\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"+AREA+=+xy+=+14x-2x%5E2+\" \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"+For+maxm+area+\" \"+dA%2Fdx=0+\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"+14-4x=0+\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"+x=3.5+\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"+y=+7+\" \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"+MaxArea+=+7+x+3.5+\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"+MaxArea+=+24.5+square+units+\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Please could someone explain what is happening in each step here. I have no idea how this answer was formed.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Thank you
\n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #614501 by stanbon(75887)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
An isosceles triangle has base 7 and height 14. Find the maximum possible area of a rectangle that can be placed inside the triangle with one side on the base of the triangle. (Hint: Similar triangles may be of assistance.) \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Area[max] = \r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "I had help on solving this but was confused by the answer. I know that an isosceles triangle is one with two equal sides. What I am confused on how this answer was derived. What exactly is happening here? how are \"compare ratios\" being implemented et cetera\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"+%28x%2F2%29%2F+%287%2F2%29+\" = \"+%2814-y%29%2F+14+\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"+y+=+14-2x+\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"+AREA+=+xy+=+14x-2x%5E2+\" \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"+For+maxm+area+\" \"+dA%2Fdx=0+\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"+14-4x=0+\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"+x=3.5+\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"+y=+7+\" \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"+MaxArea+=+7+x+3.5+\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"+MaxArea+=+24.5+square+units+\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Please could someone explain what is happening in each step here. I have no idea how this answer was formed.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Sketch a rectangle INSIDE an isoscles triangle.
\n" ); document.write( "Let the rectangle width = x and the rectangle height be y
\n" ); document.write( "Sketch the perpendicular hisector of the isosceles
\n" ); document.write( "----
\n" ); document.write( "Notice the upper triangle inside the original triangle.
\n" ); document.write( "Notice that the upper triangle has two identical halfs.
\n" ); document.write( "Notice that one of those halfs is proportional to half of the isosceles triangle.
\n" ); document.write( "-----
\n" ); document.write( "Proportion:
\n" ); document.write( "base/base = height/height
\n" ); document.write( "(x/2)/(7/2) = (14-y)/y
\n" ); document.write( "---
\n" ); document.write( "Your tutor worked with this proportion to find
\n" ); document.write( "and x and y that would give the dimensions of
\n" ); document.write( "the rectangle with the maximum area.
\n" ); document.write( "Cheers,
\n" ); document.write( "Stan H.
\n" ); document.write( "-----------
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