Question

How do you solve this?

The plan shows part of a roof on a house. A horizontal beam parallel to the base of the roof connects the roof and the central pillar. What is the unknown measurement on the plan?
http://www.clipular.com/c/5193058980200448.png?k=w4SPOFD6juQAXGqjh1HwH8E9_zE

Answer 1

@peachpi

Answer 2

@ganeshie8

Answer 3

@aaronq

Answer 4

@sleepyhead314

Answer 5

Thank You so FLIPPING much

Answer 6

We are given two similar triangles :)

One of the triangles has sides 14 and 8

the other triangle has sides (? + 14) and (8 + 15)

do you see what I mean? :)

Answer 7

btw Welcome to OpenStudy ;)
sorry that you weren't getting help fast enough .-.

Answer 8

Do I have to subtract the 8 and the 5 to get the (?)

And thanks, and its fine lol

Answer 9

One of the triangles has sides 14 and 8
the other triangle has sides (? + 14) and (8 + 15)

With these two pieces of information, we can make a ratio thing
14 8
------------- = ---------------
(? + 14) (8 + 15)

Answer 10

sorry, gimma a sec, I'm not sure that was right

Answer 11

Your good. At least your helping :)

Answer 12

it's right, there had been just another way to right it and I got confused xD

so
14 8
------------- = ---------------
(? + 14) (8 + 15)

can you cross multiply and solve for the "?" :)

Answer 13

Woa, This is confusing. Sorry I'm a slowpoke. I'll figure it out. Thank you for your help :)

Answer 14

No worries ^_^

cross multiplying really is confusing at times :P (I finally figured it out like 3 years after I was supposed to have learned it xD)

would you like for me to help break it down more for you? :)

Answer 15

Haha. Thank you so much. Your very helpful and comforting. But yes that would be great

Answer 16

here's how I learned it

Have you seen
1
--- x 2 = 1
2
happen before?

Answer 17

Yeah I see it

Answer 18

it is the same idea :)

14 8
------------- = ---------------
(? + 14) (8 + 15)

we would multiply both sides by (? + 14) first

and get
14 8*(? + 14)
---------- = --------------
(1) (8 + 15)
it would cancel out the Denominator on the Left side
and stay in the Numerator on the Right side

Answer 19

So for the earlier equation its 112 and 322?

Answer 20

you got it :)

322 = 8*? + 112

Answer 21

So the answer to the question is that? ._.

Answer 22

not quite xD

322 = 8x + 112

let's use the variable "x"?
does that look familiar? can you solve for "x"?

Answer 23

x = 1 and 1 times 8 is 8?

Answer 24

hmm?

Answer 25

322 = 8x + 112
-112 -112 subtract 112 from both sides to get "8x" alone
-------------------------
210 = 8x

Answer 26

Oh okay :D

Answer 27

then divide both sides by 8
to get "x" alone

210 = 8x
------ ----
8 8

Answer 28

26.25 and the 8 gets cancelled out?

Answer 29

exactly :)

Answer 30

Wow :) Thank You so much. You tha realest dawg. Heres some DAP.... Boom!

Answer 31

I'm happy I could help :)

Answer 32

Yes. When no-one else was there you woke up and showed me the way.

Your my mathematical savior.

Theres a special pace for people like you in heaven.

Answer 33

"woke up" punny considering my name xD lol

Answer 34

I will be on and off throughout the rest of the day, if you need any more help, just tag me ^_^

Answer 35

Thank You sooooo much!

Answer 36

Have a great day :)

Answer 37

you too :)