USING PARRALLELOGRAMS TO SOLVE FOR VARIABLES

[Guest]

When solving for variables with parrallelograms, do I use the same techniques as solving algebra? Example:

Solve for x and y

MA = 4x+20
AP = 6x+9
IP = x+26
IM= 7y

M_________A
/ /
/ /
/ /
/ /
/ /
I_________P

 

[stapel]

I'm going to guess that you mean sides MA and IP to be parallel and of equal lengths, with the same applying to sides AP and IM.

You are given equal-length sides, and expressions for those lengths. Set the appropriate pairs of expressions equal to each other, and solve for the variables.

Note: It would be better to solve the MA-IP pair first.

Eliz.