Question the-2-

3.1 Ratios, Rates, and Proportional Relationships - Scale factors in geometry
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  • The 2 triangles share common vertex upper R.
    • Common vertex upper R lies on line segment upper P upper T.
  • Triangle upper Q upper P upper R is labeled as follows:
    • Angle upper Q upper P upper R is a right angle.
    • The measure of angle upper Q upper R upper P is x/li>
  • Triangle upper S upper T upper R is labeled as follows:
    • Angle upper S upper T upper R is a right angle.
    • The measure of angle upper S upper R upper T is x/li>
  • A note indies the figure is not drawn to scale.

 

QPR is similar to STR. The lengths represented by ST¯QP¯PR¯, and QR¯ in the figure are 14 , 15 , 20 , and 25 , respectively. What is the length of SR¯?

A.

35015

B.

35020

C.

21020

D.

21025

The 2 triangles share common vertex upper R. Common vertex upper R lies on line segment

Hard-difficulty · SAT Math · Ratios, Rates, and Proportional Relationships — Scale factors in geometry. Read the question above, select your answer, and check the full explanation below to understand exactly why the correct choice works.

Answer explanation

Choice A is correct. The figure shows that angle P in QPR and angle T in STR are right angles. It follows that angle P is congruent to angle T . The figure also shows that the measures of angle QRP and angle SRT are both x°. Therefore, angle QRP is congruent to angle SRT. It’s given that QPR is similar to STR. Since angle P is congruent to angle T , and angle QRP is congruent to angle SRT, it follows that QR¯ corresponds to SR¯, and QP¯ corresponds to ST¯. Since corresponding sides of similar triangles are proportional, it follows that SRQR=STQP. It’s also given that the lengths of ST¯, QP¯, and QR¯ are 14 , 15 , and 25 , respectively. Substituting 14 for S T , 15 for QP, and 25 for Q R in the equation SRQR=STQP yields SR25=1415. Multiplying each side of this equation by 25 yields SR=141525, or SR=35015. Thus, the length of SR¯ is 35015.

Choice B is incorrect. This is the result of solving the equation SR25=1420, not SR25=1415.

Choice C is incorrect. This is the result of solving the equation SR14=1520, not SR25=1415.

Choice D is incorrect. This is the result of solving the equation SR14=1525, not SR25=1415.