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Delroy’s sailboat has two sails that are similar triangles. The larger sail has sides of 10 feet, 24 feet, and 26 feet. If the shortest side of the smaller sail measures 6 feet, what is the perimeter of the smaller sail?

Answer 1

Evelyn Arboleda

#P=36 ft.#

If the 2 triangles are similar then this proportion is valid: #A/a=B/b=C/c# In case #10/6=24/b=26/c#

To find b #10/6=24/b# => #b= (24 xx 6)/10=14.4#

To find c #10/6=26/c# => #c=(26 xx 6)/10=15.6#

Perimeter #P=a+b+c=6+14.4+15.6=36#

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Answer 2

Evelyn Arboleda

The perimeter of the smaller sail is 18 feet.

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Answer from HIX Tutor

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.