Create a proportion using the properties of similar triangles.
61.4 in.
Practice makes perfect
Let's begin with recalling that, according to the Angle-Angle Similarity Theorem, if two angles of one triangle are congruent to two angles of another triangle, then the triangles are similar. This means that the drawn triangles are similar. Let x be the length of BC.
To find the value of x, we will create a proportion using the fact that in similar triangles the corresponding sides are proportional.
34/x=21 34/17 12
Let's solve above equation. We will start with rewriting the mixed numbers as decimals.
The distance between B and C is approximately 27.4 inches. To evaluate the distance traveled by the ball, we will add the lengths of AB and BC.
34+27.4=61.4
The distance traveled by the ball is approximately 61.4 inches.
