If R is the midpoint, then SR is one-half of the line segment ST. Therefore:
3x-2 = (5x+3)/2
2(3x - 2) = 5x + 3
6x - 4 = 5x + 3
x - 4 = 3
x = 7
Since R is the midpoint, SR and RT are the same length. Since the length of SR is 3x-2, that is also true for segment RT. Plug in 7 for x to solve for the length:
Comments
If R is the midpoint, then SR is one-half of the line segment ST. Therefore:
3x-2 = (5x+3)/2
2(3x - 2) = 5x + 3
6x - 4 = 5x + 3
x - 4 = 3
x = 7
Since R is the midpoint, SR and RT are the same length. Since the length of SR is 3x-2, that is also true for segment RT. Plug in 7 for x to solve for the length:
RT = 3x - 2
RT = 3(7) - 2
RT = 21 - 2
RT = 19
Segment RT is 19 units long.
ST=SR+RT=>
5x+3=3x-2+RT=>
RT=5x+3-3x+2=>
RT=2x+5
so what you want to do, since SR is only part of ST, you want to subtract SR from ST giving you:
ST=SR+RT
5x+3=3x-2+(RT)
-3x -3x
2x+3=-2+(RT)
+2 +2
2x+5=(RT)