Question 1132728
The sides of a triangle are 12,15, and 20.if the shortest side of a similar
triangle is 3, find the length of the longest side of the triangle.
<pre>
The sides of the first triangle are 12,15, and 20.

Let the sides of the second (similar) triangle be 3,x, and y.

Then 12 is to 3 as 15 is to x,

{{{12/3=15/x}}}

Cross multiply:

{{{12*x=15*3}}}
{{{12x=45}}}
{{{x= 45/12=15/4=3.75}}}  <--middle-size side (we weren't asked
                             for this, but I thought I'd find it
                             anyway.)

Also, 12 is to 3 as 20 is to y,

{{{12/3=20/y}}}

Cross multiply:

{{{12*y=20*3}}}
{{{12y=60}}}
{{{y=60/12=5}}}   <--longest side

Edwin</pre>