The direct distance between city a and city b is 200 miles. the direct distance between city b and city c is 300 miles. which could be the direct distance between city c and city a

hello :

by applying the distributive property :

6 × 4.3 = 6 × ( 4 + 0.3 )

            =   (6 ×   4) + (6 ×   0.3)

            = 24 + 1.8

6 × 4.3 = 25.8

we have three similar triangles, because each has a right angle and shares an angle.   let's write the angles in order: opposite to short leg, long leg, hypotenuse.

cab similar to bad similar to cbd

or as ratios,

ca: ab: cb = ba: ad: bd = cb: bd: cd

we also know

ac = ad + cd

(ad+cd): ab: cb = ba: ad: bd = cb: bd: cd

(ad+cd)/cb=cb/cd

we have cb=6, ad=5 and seek x=cd.

we reject the negative root and conclude x=4

answer: 4