can someone please solve this? I clicked on homework help and it wasn't much help. I'm trying to turn in as much missing assignments as I can before school ends on Thursday. Thank you!

In reality, the 5's go on forever, but we have to round off somewhere.

========================================================

Explanation:

Break up the triangles as your teacher recommends. See the diagram below as to what I mean.

The smaller triangle has A = 8 as the horizontal side, and B = x as the vertical side

The larger triangle has C = 10+8 = 18 as the horizontal aside, and D = 8 as the vertical side.

We can form the proportion A/C = B/D.

A/C connects the horizontal sides (small/large) while B/D has the vertical sides tied together. The order of division is the same small over large. You could do large over small, but make sure you keep both sides consistent.

-----------------

Let's solve for x

A/C = B/D

8/18 = x/8

8*8 = 18*x .... cross multiply

64 = 18x

18x = 64

x = 64/18 .... divide both sides by 18

x = 32/9  exactly in fraction form

x = 3.556 approximately in decimal form

-------------------

Another proportion you can solve is A/B = C/D and you should get the same x value. It's the same as A/C = B/D because the B and C swap places. There are many other approaches you could take using different proportions.