airports // 5sos au

xvii.

Fun fact about this chapter:

Featured above is the problem Emily and Luke work through in the chapter, and I'm actually learning about special right triangles in geometry currently. (I was absent so I had to teach myself about this, oh gosh. It would've been so much easier to have Luke teach me, but I didn't have his help. I eventually had a friend teach me the chart thing like ten minutes before a big test lmaooo) Anyway, I'm still getting the hang of it and strangely writing it out helped a lot. Enough about my boring math experiences, let's move on to Luke and Emily's boring math experiences.

enobles

•••••

[emily]

"Special right triangles are going to be the absolute death of me, Luke," I groan. Sitting at my large cream-colored desk, I run a hand through my hair and stare at the paper in front of me.

"It's not hard once you get used to them," Luke says. I look up at my computer screen and sigh. I shift in my seat a little as Luke suggests, "Let's just try question number three, yeah?" I nod and let him explain the question.

"So, what kind of right triangle is this?"

"Thirty, sixty, ninety," I say as I see Luke's face on my computer screen.

"Try again."

"Forty-five, forty-five, ninety," I groan.

"You can tell if it's a 'thirty-sixty' or a 'forty-five, forty-five' by looking at the type of triangle. If it has only two equal sides then it's a," Luke pauses.

"Isosceles," I answer as he nods.

"Yeah, and basically, if the triangle doesn't show the two equality indicators, then assume that it's a 'thirty-sixty' triangle. Therefore, number three is a 'forty-five, forty-five, ninety' triangle because those two sides have equality indicators."

I nod in comprehension and let Luke continue to explain which sides correspond with the thirty, sixty, and ninety degree angles. Surprisingly, for the first time, this material actually makes sense. He shows me a small chart I can write down to keep track of the angle measurements and all of their properties.

"So, since the side labeled eight square roots of three corresponds with the ninety degree angle, you can figure out that x is four square roots of three." Luke finishes.

I look over my paper once more as I hear him take a deep breath. It's odd because I can hear his breath in my ear due to my earbuds being in, but I also find it slightly comforting, so I don't bring attention to it.

"Does that make sense?" He asks.

"Actually, it does," I nod in disbelief.

"I told you that you'd get the hang of it! You're smarter than you give yourself credit for, you know," Luke says.

"Sure, sure," I roll my eyes, "Anyways, I want to thank you because honestly I've been slowly dying all year, considering that I'm not the best with math, and the fact that I had to transfer to a new teacher didn't help at all, so thank you."

"You're welcome, Emily," Luke grins.

I open my mouth to say something but I'm interrupted by someone knocking on my bedroom door.

"Come in," I say as I turn towards the fairly large door.

"Honey, what are you still doing up?" My Mom asks as she walks in.

"I'm talking with someone," I point to my computer.

"Who?" She smiles and sits on the edge of my bed. It honestly irritates me how she's just automatically making herself comfortable without asking for my permission. I don't say anything, though, because it's her house and she's my Mom.