Nicole runs 3 miles in 28 minutes. At the same rate, how many miles would she run in 42 minutes?

geometry: triangles

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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

let x and 400 - x be the two numbers.  

==> 0.80x + 0.85(400 - x) = 400 - 68 from the statement of the problem.  

< ==> 0.80x + 0.85(400 - x) = 400 - 68  

==> 340 - 0.05x = 332  

< ==> -0.05x = -8 ==> x = 160, the first number ==> 400 - x = 240, the second number.

to find the perimeter, you add up all the lengths of the sides. in this case you would have to add up 18+22+40+80 which equals 160.