Is there a way to do these problems without resorting to plugging in?

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
2

<ol>
<li>A=0.5bh
(A+5)=0.5b(h+2)
Substitute: (0.5bh)+5=0.5b(h+2)
Simplify and you get:b=5
The answer is E</li>
</ol>

<p>2.The 2 angles next to x are 90-a and 90-b, and all 3 add up to 90, so you could say
90=x+(90-a)+(90-b)
Simplify for a+b and you get 90+x</p>

<p>But in all honesty it’s probably easier to plug in.</p>