Let C be a point not on line AE and D a point on line AE such that CD ⊥ AE. Meanwhile, B is a point on line CE such that AB ⊥ CE. If AB = 4, CD = 8, and AE = 5, then what is the length of CE?
*⊥ means perpendicular.
\(\because \angle E = \angle E, \angle ABE = \angle CDE = 90º\therefore \text {By AA Similarity}, \triangle EBA \sim \triangle EDC.\\ \because \triangle EBA \sim \triangle EDC \therefore \frac{AB}{DC}=\frac{AE}{CE}.\\ \text{Filling in the numbers, we get}: \frac{4}{8}=\frac{5}{CE}.\\ \text{Solving for CE}: 4CE=5\cdot8\Rightarrow CE=10\)
The length of CE is 10.
I hope this helped,
Gavin.