Why can’t we use the rules for exponents when the bases are not common?

step-by-step explanation:

(s)he  is right it would be 5.5% because it is smaller than 15.5% or anything smaller than 15.5% in general

1. 34

2. 268

3. x=14.4

step-by-step explanation:

we have three similar triangles, because each has a right angle and shares an angle.   let's write the angles in order: opposite to short leg, long leg, hypotenuse.

cab similar to bad similar to cbd

or as ratios,

ca: ab: cb = ba: ad: bd = cb: bd: cd

we also know

ac = ad + cd

(ad+cd): ab: cb = ba: ad: bd = cb: bd: cd

(ad+cd)/cb=cb/cd

we have cb=6, ad=5 and seek x=cd.

we reject the negative root and conclude x=4

answer: 4