Answer:
The length of each side of the city is 250b
Step-by-step explanation:
Given
[tex]a = 20[/tex] --- tree distance from north gate
[tex]b =14[/tex] --- movement from south gate
[tex]c = 1775[/tex] --- movement in west direction from (b)
See attachment for illustration
Required
Find x
To do this, we have:
[tex]\triangle ADE \sim \triangle ACB[/tex] --- similar triangles
So, we have the following equivalent ratios
[tex]AE:DE = AB:CB[/tex]
Where:
[tex]AE = 20\\ DE = x/2 \\ AB = 20 + x + 14 \\ CB = 1775[/tex]
Substitute these in the above equation
[tex]20:x/2 = 20 + x + 14: 1775[/tex]
[tex]20:x/2 = x + 34: 1775[/tex]
Express as fraction
[tex]\frac{20}{x/2} = \frac{x + 34}{1775}[/tex]
[tex]\frac{40}{x} = \frac{x + 34}{1775}[/tex]
Cross multiply
[tex]x *(x + 34) = 1775 * 40[/tex]
Open bracket
[tex]x^2 + 34x = 71000[/tex]
Rewrite as:
[tex]x^2 + 34x - 71000 = 0[/tex]
Expand
[tex]x^2 + 284x -250x - 71000 = 0[/tex]
Factorize
[tex]x(x + 284) -250(x + 284)= 0[/tex]
Factor out x + 284
[tex](x - 250)(x + 284)= 0[/tex]
Split
[tex]x - 250 = 0 \ or\ x + 284= 0[/tex]
Solve for x
[tex]x = 250 \ or\ x =- 284[/tex]
x can't be negative;
So:
[tex]x = 250[/tex]
