SOLUTION: An equilateral triangle (one with all sides the same length) has an altitude of 40 inches. Find the length of the sides.

Question 318805: An equilateral triangle (one with all sides the same length) has an altitude of 40 inches. Find the length of the sides.
Answer by unlockmath(1688) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Hello,
One way to solve this is using the Pythagorean theorem. We set up one side as x and the other side as 1/2(x) so we have:
1/2x^2+40^2=x^2
Subtract 1/2x^2 from both sides to get:
1600=1/2x^2
Multiple by 2 to get:
3200=x^2
Sq root each side to get:
x=56.57 inches (rounded off) for each side.
Make ssense?
RJ
www.math-unlock.com

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