The orange shape is a dilation of the black shape. What is the scale factor of the dilation?

the answer is b.

step-by-step explanation:

by the trigonometric ratio tangent, tangent equals opposite divided by adjacent.

therefore, tan(50) equals ac/3

multiply each side by 3 to get: ac=3tan(50)

the answer is b.

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