SOLUTION: An isosceles triangle has two sides that measure 2 inches and one side that measures 3 inches.A similar isosceles triangel has two sides each 8 inches long.What is the length of th

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Question 28332: An isosceles triangle has two sides that measure 2 inches and one side that measures 3 inches.A similar isosceles triangel has two sides each 8 inches long.What is the length of the third side?
Answer by Earlsdon(6294) (Show Source):
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The two isosceles triangles are "similar" so their sides are "proportional"
Find the scale factor by dividing the known length of one side of the larger triangle by the known length of a "corresponding" side of the smaller triangle.
Scale factor is: 8"/2" = 4
Multiply the length of the base of the smaller triangle by the scale factor of 4 to find the unknown length of the base of the larger triangle.
Base of smaller triangle = 3"
Base of larger triangle = 4 X 3" = 12"