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Geometry and Trigonometry / Right triangles and trigonometry Difficulty: Hard

Triangle A B C is similar to triangle D E F , where A corresponds to D and C corresponds to F . Angles C and F are right angles. If tanA=3 and DF=125, what is the length of DE¯?

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Explanation

Choice D is correct. Corresponding angles in similar triangles have equal measures. It's given that triangle ABC is similar to triangle DEF, where A corresponds to D , so the measure of angle A is equal to the measure of angle D . Therefore, if tanA=3, then tanD=3. It's given that angles C and F are right angles, so triangles ABC and DEF are right triangles. The adjacent side of an acute angle in a right triangle is the side closest to the angle that is not the hypotenuse. It follows that the adjacent side of angle D is side D F . The opposite side of an acute angle in a right triangle is the side across from the acute angle. It follows that the opposite side of angle D is side E F . The tangent of an acute angle in a right triangle is the ratio of the length of the opposite side to the length of the adjacent side. Therefore, tanD=EFDF. If DF=125, the length of side E F can be found by substituting 3 for tanD and 125 for D F in the equation tanD=EFDF, which yields 3=EF125. Multiplying both sides of this equation by 125 yields 1253=EF. Since the length of side E F is 3 times the length of side D F , it follows that triangle DEF is a special right triangle with angle measures 30°, 60°, and 90°. Therefore, the length of the hypotenuse, DE¯, is 2 times the length of side D F , or DE=2DF. Substituting 125 for D F in this equation yields DE=2125, or DE=250. Thus, if tanA=3 and DF=125, the length of DE¯ is 250 .

Choice A is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice C is incorrect. This is the length of EF¯, not DE¯.