SOLUTION: A cross section of a cottage, 18ft wide is an isosceles triangle. If the slope of a side is 1.75 and there is a second floor 8ft above the ground floor, what is the width of the s

Algebra ->  Linear-equations -> SOLUTION: A cross section of a cottage, 18ft wide is an isosceles triangle. If the slope of a side is 1.75 and there is a second floor 8ft above the ground floor, what is the width of the s      Log On


   

Question 1121875: A cross section of a cottage, 18ft wide is an isosceles triangle. If the slope of a side is 1.75 and there is a second floor 8ft above the ground floor, what is the width of the second floor?
Answer by greenestamps(13198) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


Here is a picture....



The slope of line AC is 7/4, so we can find the height of the triangle, CO:

7%2F4+=+h%2F9
h+=+63%2F4

Since OF is 8, CF is 63/4-8 = 31/4.

Then, since triangles CAB and CDE are similar, we can find the length of DE:

%2831%2F4%29%2Fx+=+%2863%2F4%29%2F18
x+=+62%2F7

Answer: the second floor is 62/7 feet wide.