SOLUTION: The lengths of the bases of an isosceles trapezoid are 20 and 44, and the length of the altitude is 16. Find the length of a leg of the trapezoid.

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Question 177395: The lengths of the bases of an isosceles trapezoid are 20 and 44, and the length of the altitude is 16. Find the length of a leg of the trapezoid.
Answer by Fombitz(13823) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The difference in bases is split between the two triangle bases (TB as shown in the diagram).
44-20=24
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drawing%28+300%2C+300%2C+-5%2C+5%2C+-5%2C+5%2C%0D%0Aline%28-1%2C2%2C1%2C2%29%2C%0D%0Aline%28-3%2C-2%2C3%2C-2%29%2C%0D%0Aline%28-3%2C-2%2C-1%2C2%29%2C%0D%0Aline%283%2C-2%2C1%2C2%29%2C%0D%0Aline%28-1%2C2%2C-1%2C-2%29%2C%0D%0Aline%281%2C2%2C1%2C-2%29%2C%0D%0Alocate%28-2.7%2C0%2CL%29%2C%0D%0Alocate%28-.75%2C0%2CA%29%2C%0D%0Alocate%28-2.2%2C-2.2%2CTB%29%0D%0A%29
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So each triangle base (TB) is 12 units and the triangle altitude (A) is 16.
You can use Pythagorean theorem to solve for the trapezoid leg.
L=sqrt%2812%5E2%2B16%5E2%29=sqrt%28144%2B256%29=sqrt%28400%29=20