Last minute help on math problem

[Hoeboy]

Been stuck on this two problem and my homework is due in about 30 minutes. If someone can point me in the right direction, that would be swell.

1) One leg of a triangle is 50. A line parallel to the other leg and at a distance of 20 from that leg cuts off a right trapezoid of area 320. Find the lengths of the bases of the trapezoid.

I'm having a hard time visualizing this one.


2) Divide 100 loaves among 5 people in such a way that the shares received shall be in arithmetic progression and that one-seventh of the sum of the largest three shares shall be equal to the sum of the smallest two.

So far I'm just plugging in numbers and seeing where it'll take me. If there is a more efficient way, plz me know. thanks

 

[AgentEL]

4, 28

 

[Hoeboy]

mind elaborating on how u got to the numbers?

 

[AgentEL]

hold on... i don't know if that's right sorry

 

[Lithium381]

Originally posted by: Hoeboy
mind elaborating on how u got to the numbers?

yeah, that's a little vauge, and i don't quite understand how the solution works for the 2nd one.>>!?!

 

[AgentEL]

Originally posted by: AgentEL
hold on... i don't know if that's right sorry

for the bases of trapezoid: 20, 12

 

[AgentEL]

Originally posted by: AgentEL

Originally posted by: AgentEL
hold on... i don't know if that's right sorry

for the bases of trapezoid: 20, 12

For the Area of Trap = (B1+B2)/2 * H = 320 and rearranged and plugging in numbers ==> B1+B2=32

Based on similar triangles you know ratios of the legs:

50/B1 = 30/B2 or ratio of B1 to B2 is 5:3

then you have two equations:

50/B1 = 30/B2 and
B1+B2 = 32

two equations, two variables

i didn't get a chance to look at the other one.

 

[Hoeboy]

dont worry about the other one. it was actually a famous problem from egypt so i googled for it and found a solution. bahahaha. let me look over your solution. thanks for the time and effort.