A diver is currently at an elevation of -380 feet. Write an absolute value statement to express the diver's distance, in feet, from sea level. Then, interpret the result within the context of the situation.

 The answer would be 380.  The absolute value would be 380 because absolute value simply measures how far a number is away from 0 on a number line and -380 is 380 spots away from 0.  In this context it would simply mean that 380 feet away from sea level, but in his case he is below the ocean, which is why it is negative.

geometry: triangles

solvers

lessons

answers archive

call the larger triangle abc

then the smaller triangle cde is similar to abc (all angles are equal, aaa).  

ab is the side that is 36, and we wish to find de, the side corresponding to ab

area_cde = area_abc - area_cde --> area_abc / area_cde = 2

let x=length of de

ratio of areas = (ratio of sides)^2

+2+=+%2836%2fx%29%5e2+

+2+=+1296%2fx%5e2+

++x%5e2+=+1296%2f2+=+648+

25.45584