Use the Figure below
4a+5 2a-6
X__________________Y___________Z
XZ = 20
a. What is a
b. What is the length of segment XY?
c. What is the length of segment YZ
is Y the midpoint of segment XZ? in other words, are segments XY and YZ equal to each other?
No
So do you think you can help me solve it?
oh and the 2a-6 is suppose to be between YZ on the line but it got moved when i hit submit
first, add both segments together: (combine like terms)
(4a+5)+ (2a-6)=
6a-1
And because 6a-1 is the whole segment, make it equal to 20.
6a-1=20
6a=21
a=3.5
Now you have to substitute... can you take it from here?
(this is what i got. but please remember that i'm not a geometry teacher, just a student who happens to be learning the same thing.)
that's what i thought, but thanks for confirming.
Great Thanks! I'll try to finish solving it but my teacher never really taught this stuff so i'm trying to learn it and my mom can't help cause she works so i'll try.
you're welcome! can you figure out the rest or do you need more help?
ok Can you remind me how to substitute please... I'm sorry i probably sound really stupid asking that. But we havn't reviewed that yet.
uhmmm i need more help if you don't mind.
that's fine! i don't even know your age so you don't sound stupid at all.
substituting is like this:
if you have, for example, 5n-2, and n=7, to solve for 'n' you would need to substitute it in.
5n-2=
5(7)-2=......... this is the distributive property, where you distribute what's in the parenthesis.
35-2(because you multiplied 5 times 7)=
33
hope it helps!
ok... for what?
hmm not really haha sorry I just don't understand this stuff and my teacher won't help me. I guess i'm just not as smart as everyone says... egh Do you think you can help me finish it... If you don't mind?
well i think i could... how much is left?
well Depends on which letter you got to. In the beginning there was 3 letters Which letter did you get to? Cause depending on where its not too much more.
what do you mean? do you need me to help you solve for XZ? i can do that.
is that problem the ONLY one you need help with?
actually i need help with the whole thing... Now i know what i want to drop out of school
ok... but in my first response, didn't i help you a lot? did you read that one yet?? there wasn't much you had to do after that, rememeber? you just had to substitute.
let me know if you even read that one before i help you with stuff you don't need me to!
Yes i read that one I need help with the substituting and then whatevers after that!
THIS IS WHAT I WROTE BEFORE:
First, add both segments together: (combine like terms)
(4a+5)+ (2a-6)=
6a-1
And because 6a-1 is the whole segment, make it equal to 20.
6a-1=20
6a=21
a=3.5
Now you have to substitute... can you take it from here?
---------------------------------
so, substituting. we know that a=3.5, but we need to substitute it in for two segments: XY and YZ (that's the question you wrote:a. What is 'a', which we already solved, and
b. What is the length of segment XY?
c. What is the length of segment YZ
Segment XY is 4a+5
So substitute in a for that (remember a=3.5, do you think you could do that on your own?)
Now, Segment YZ. It equals 2a-6. Substitute in 'a' for that, too. Try to do that on your own. Now you have all the answers!
P.S. To check your work, add up what you got for segment XY and YZ, it should equal 20 because XZ=20, as it says in the problem.
just for a visual, look:
X-------Y-------Z
even to SEE it would help:
XY=YZ=XZ. Which is what we're basically doing except with numbers,
See it?
So that's it?! Wow that was simple... why didn't you tell me it was that easy?! If i woulda known i coulda solved it. Thank you soo much though. Now i know how to do it for future refrence.
yes! sorry i wasn't clear. glad to be of help. is that it? can i do my english homework in peace now? (just kidding. that was so fun. i feel so smart. and i'm glad you understand it! now i know how teachers feel! :)
lol
well i know you did it correctly because my mom checked over it and made sure it was right and was happy it was finally done.
haha yes you can do your english hw in peace now. lol Thanks again!