Comment |First of all, the triangles are equal by ASA the way the diagram has been marked.
B and E are both right angles. Side BC = Side DE <BCA =< EDA
So triangle BCA = triangle EDA
Now to the letters. x = y - 1 Add 1 to both sides. x + 1 = y (1) 3x - 2 = 2y + 1 Subtract 1 from both sides. 3x -2 - 1 = 2y 3x - 3 = 2y Divide by 2 3x/2 - 3/2 = 2y/2 1.5x - 1.5 = y (2)
Step One Since (1) and (2) both have y isolated on their respective right sides, they can be equated.
1.5x - 1.5 = x + 1 Take an x from both sides. 0.5x - 1.5 = x - x + 1 0.5x - 1.5 = 1 Add 1.5 to both sides. 0.5x = 1 + 1.5 0.5x = 2.5 Divide 0.5 on both sides. 0.5x/0.5 = 2.5/0.5
x = 5
Now we need a y value. x = y - 1 5 = y - 1 Add 1 to both sides. 5 + 1 = y - 1 + 1 6 = y
So the 2 sides and the 2 angles are equal when x = 5 y = 6