Find the value of the variable

geometry: triangles

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call the larger triangle abc

then the smaller triangle cde is similar to abc (all angles are equal, aaa).  

ab is the side that is 36, and we wish to find de, the side corresponding to ab

area_cde = area_abc - area_cde --> area_abc / area_cde = 2

let x=length of de

ratio of areas = (ratio of sides)^2

+2+=+%2836%2fx%29%5e2+

+2+=+1296%2fx%5e2+

++x%5e2+=+1296%2f2+=+648+

25.45584

not sure but it may be b, as i said i'm not sure.

you didn't post any answer choices, so its not 100% clear what your teacher is looking for

however, log(15/7) is equivalent to log(15) - log(7)

i'm using the rule log(x/y) = log(x) - log(y)