Thread: Please Help!

A segment joins the midpoints of two sides of a triangle.

Find the value of x.
Find the value of y.

Please explain how to reach the answer! Thanks!

Originally Posted by whytechocolate01

Find the value of x.
Find the value of y.

Please explain how to reach the answer! Thanks!

It can't be done. The smaller top triangle is similar to the large (overall) triangle, but this will only give you ratios, not specific numbers. The best I can say is that:
(3x + 2)/(10x - 4) = (3y - 18)/([3y- 18] + [2(y - 5)])

or

(3x + 2)/(10x - 4) = (3y - 18)/(5y - 28)

-Dan

Originally Posted by topsquark

It can't be done.

Tsk Tsk.

10x-4 = 2(3x+2)

10x-4 = 6x+4

4x = 8

x = 2


I'll tell you that:

3y-18 = 2(y-5)

but you'll have to solve for y.

Helllo, whytechocolate01!

Ah, those are midpoints!

A segment joins the midpoints of two sides of a triangle.
Find the value of x and y.

Since those are midpoints: .3y - 18 .= .2(y - 5) . → . y = 8


Theorem: The line segment joining midpoints of two sides of a triangle
. . is parallel to and one-half the length of the third side.

Hence, we have: .3x + 2 .= .½(10x - 4) . → . x = 2

Originally Posted by Soroban

Ah, those are midpoints!

My comment exactly!

-Dan

Awesome job everyone! I had this exact question on a worksheet! LOL. Thanks to whytechocolate01 for posting this!

Thank you all for helping me figure out this problem. You have all been quite helpful!

@ IHATECHONGAS: Hiiiiiiiiiiii! LOL. Don't mind me i'm being random... :P

Toodlez!