Can someone explain by steps on how to do this

8

Step-by-step explanation:

This is a special right triangle with angle measures 90-60-30 degrees

The side lengths are like the following :

The side length that sees 90 degrees is represented with x

The side length that sees 60 degrees is represented with x

The side length that sees 30 degrees is represented with 2x

the side that sees 90 degrees is given as 16 so x = 8 and so  a = 8

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+

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