Step by step
The question
Question: D E is parallel to B C, with AD = 5, AB = 20, BC = 16: find DE.
1 Use the parallel line
D E is parallel to B C: the arrows show it.
So triangle A D E has the same angles as A B C: they are similar.
The small triangle is the big one made smaller: every side by the same scale.
2 Write the proportion
So: AD over AB equals DE over BC.
Careful!
Keep the same order on both sides: the matching parts on top, the matching parts at the bottom.
Put the numbers in.
We call DE x: 5/20 = x/16.
3 Cross multiply
When two fractions are equal, we can cross multiply.
These two are equal.
Work out the multiplications.
Let's swap the two sides, so x is on the left.
4 Remove the 20
20x means 20 times x.
We want just x.
To remove times 20, we divide by 20.
We do it on both sides.
Why both sides?
The = sign means both sides are the same amount.
If we change only one side, they are not the same any more.
20 divided by 20 is 1.
So just x is left.
80 divided by 20 is 4.
So x = 4!
5 Check
Let's check: put 4 in place of x.
First the left side.
Now the right side.
Both sides are 1/4.
So x = 4 is right!
So DE = 4.
Let's look back.
First: use the parallel line.
Then: write the proportion.
Then: cross multiply.
Then: remove the 20.
Last: check.