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Question P6 Repeated identity

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Two kite panels — the length of BC

A kite maker joins two rectangular fabric panels, ABDF and BCEF, along a straight seam CDE. AB = 15 cm, AF = 20 cm and BF = 25 cm. Find the length of BC.

Rectangles ABDF and BCEF share the edge BF, and CDE is one straight line. BF is the diagonal of ABDF and a side of BCEF. Drawn to scale.15 cm20 cm25 cm?ABCDEF

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About this method

Repeated identity

One length or count, described two ways in the same question.

In this one. One triangle has one area but two usable bases — swap to the base you already know (BF), and the side you are hunting (BC) turns into that base's height.

the same edge, measured twicelong tilesshort tilesboth rows end level, so 3 long = 5 short

How to spot it

A shape or count is described from two viewpoints in the same question, such as one edge measured as a number of long pieces and again as a number of short pieces.

Common mistake

Children treat the two descriptions as separate quantities and add them. Both describe the same quantity, so the two must be equal.

Practise a similar question

Standard A rectangular tank measures 30 cm by 20 cm by 25 cm. It is 3/5 full of water. All the water is poured into a second rectangular container with a base area of 200 cm². What is the height of the water in the second contain…
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