Question 56951
<pre><font size = 4 color = "darkgreen">><b>In a triangle, the measures of two angles are in the ratio
5:2 and their difference is 15 degrees.  Find the number 
of degrees in the largest angle of the triangle.

     Let the larger angle be x°.

>>...their difference is 15 degrees...<<

     Therefore, the smaller angle = (x-15)°

>>...the measures of two angles are in the ratio 5:2...<<

     Therefore,

           x° IS TO (x-15)° AS 5 IS TO 2

Replace "IS TO" by "/" and "AS" by "=" 

     x°/(x-15)° = 5/2

which might be easier to see if written

        x         5
    --------- = -----
     x - 15       2

Can you solve that? If not post again.

Answer: x = 25°, so the smaller 
angle = x-15° or 10°.

Edwin</pre>