In Figure A, two parallel lines are cut by a transversal. The measure of <1 = 42°. Find
m<2 and describe the relationship that
helped you determine the measure.

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

"standard form:

3x2 + 14x − 10 = 0

solutions based on quadratic formula:

x1   = −14 − √ 142 − 4×3×(−10) /   2×3   = −14 − 2 × √ 79 /   6   ≈ −5.296

x2   = −14 + √ 142 − 4×3×(−10) /   2×3   = −14 + 2 × √ 79 /   6   ≈ 0.629