The length of the support piece is 6 inches
Solution:
The image of the problem is attached below.
Rosie is building a wheelchair ramp that is 12 feet long and 1.5 feet height.
Given, AD = 4 ft, AB = 12 ft, BC = 1.5 ft
Let us first convert feet into inches.
1 ft = 12 inches
AD = 4 ft × 12 = 48 inches
AB = 12 × 12 = 144 inches
BC = 1.5 × 12 = 18 inches
DB = AB – AD
= 144 inches – 48 inches
DB = 96 inches
ΔABC and ΔAED are similar triangles.
If two triangles are similar then their corresponding sides are in proportional.
[tex]$\frac{AB}{AD} =\frac{BC}{DE}$[/tex]
[tex]$\frac{144}{48} =\frac{18}{x}$[/tex]
Do cross multiplication, we get
[tex]144\times x=48\times18[/tex]
Divide by 144 on both sides of the expression, we get
x = 6
The length of the support piece is 6 inches.
