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In the diagram below, we have $ST = 2TR$ and $PQ = SR = 20$. Find the length $UV$.

 Mar 30, 2020
 #1
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Hmmm, I couldn't find a geometric way to solve this within the 1 minute I looked at this problem. I am very inpatient!

 

So let us use coordinates!

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Find ST

ST = 40/3 by simple algebra I think you can do at your skill level judging by the difficult of this problem.

 

Let QR = a

 

Slope of PT: 403a

Y-intercept of PT: 20

 

Equation: y=403ax+20

 

Slope of QS: (20/a)

Y intercept of QS: 0

 

Equation: y=20ax

 

Substitute

403ax+20=20ax

20=1003ax

20a=100x3

60a=100x

3a=5x

53x=a

Interpret this:

x is the x-coordinate of the solution of we solved for the location of the intercept at point U. That means x is the length of QV. We know a is the length of QR.

 

That means QV is three-fifths the length of QR.

 

We know that QUV is similar to QSR by AA similarity through a series of proofs.

 

Since we know the proportion of the sides, we can solve for UV:

 

Solve:

20 * (3/5) = 12

 

Ta-da! Mathz! cheeky

 Mar 30, 2020

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