Geometry and TrigonometryMediumLongest side of a similar triangle
Geometry and Trigonometry practice question
Two triangles are similar. The sides of the smaller triangle are 3, 4, and 6. The shortest side of the larger triangle is 4. What is the length of the longest side of the larger triangle?
Answer: 8
The scale factor is 4/3, so the longest side is 6 × 4/3 = 8.
Common wrong answers
- If you answered 6
- 6 is the longest side of the smaller triangle.
- If you answered 7
- 7 adds 1 to 6, as if the sides grew by the same amount rather than the same factor.
- If you answered 4.5
- 4.5 is 6 × 3/4, the scale factor inverted.
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