Step by step
The question
Question: find x.
The two triangles are similar: sides 3, 4, 6 and 15, 20, x.
1 Match the sides
Similar means the same shape.
One triangle is a bigger copy of the other.
Matching sides go together: the shortest with the shortest, the longest with the longest.
Here both lists go in the same order.
The first sides go together: 3 and 15.
The second sides: 4 and 20.
The third sides: 6 and x.
2 Find the scale factor
The scale factor k says how many times bigger.
We use a pair we know both of: 15 and 3.
k is big over small.
Careful!
The big side goes on top: 15/3, not 3/15.
15 divided by 3 is 5.
Every side of the big triangle is 5 times its partner.
3 Find x
x is in the big triangle.
Its partner in the small one is 6.
So x is 6 times 5.
That is 30.
So x = 30.
4 Check
Let's check with the other pair: 4 times 5 should be 20.
And x with its partner: 30/6 is 5 too.
Every pair has the factor 5.
So x = 30 is right!
Let's look back.
First: match the sides.
Then: find the scale factor.
Then: find x.
Last: check.