Chapter 12.5, Problem 2WE

To determine

Tocheck:Whether the prisms are similar or not.

Answer to Problem 2WE

No, both the prisms are not similar as the ratio of the sides of base is not equal to the ratio of the heights of prisms.

Explanation of Solution

Given information:The heights of the two right prisms are $18\text{ft}$ and $30\text{ft}$ . The bases of the prisms are square with sides $8\text{ft}$ and $15\text{ft}$ .

The height of the first prism is $18\text{ft}$ and the height of second prism is $30\text{ft}$ . So, the ratio of the height of first prism to the height of second prism is:

  $18:30=3:5$

The length of side of base of first prism is $8\text{ft}$ and the length of side of base of second prism is $15\text{ft}$ . So, the ratio of the length of side of base of first prism to the length of side of base of second prismis $8:15$ .

The ratio of the heights of both the prisms is not equal to the ratio of the length of sides of base of both the prisms.

Therefore, both the prisms are not similar.