document.write( "Question 1003762: I know that someone has already answered this question. but i didn't understand it.
\n" ); document.write( "Find the value of x in this diagram.
\n" ); document.write( "http://imgur.com/IbkSbNZ
\n" ); document.write( "Please explain the steps. Thanks\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So the person stated that both \"triangles\" have the similar ratios. I don't understand how they got that. Please explain or solve it another way. (i tried to solve it using Pythagoras, but didn't get the answer right [x=2]) \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #620409 by Edwin McCravy(20055) $\"\"$ $\"About$

You can put this solution on YOUR website!

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document.write( "It has nothing to do with the fact that the triangles are right triangles.\r\n" );
document.write( "It has to do with the fact that they are similar.\r\n" );
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document.write( "Triangle ABC is similar to triangle DEC\r\n" );
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document.write( "Therefore AB is to BC as DE is to EC\r\n" );
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document.write( "From the figure we see that\r\n" );
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document.write( "AB = x, BC = BE+EC = 2+x, DE = 1, EC = x\r\n" );
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document.write( "Substituting,\r\n" );
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document.write( "Cross multiply:\r\n" );
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document.write( "Factor the left side:\r\n" );
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document.write( "x-2 = 0;  x+1 = 0\r\n" );
document.write( "  x = 2;    x = -1\r\n" );
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document.write( "Ignore the negative answer.\r\n" );
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document.write( "Solution x = 2.\r\n" );
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document.write( "So the figure is\r\n" );
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document.write( "Edwin

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