SOLUTION: The altitude drawn to the hypotenuse of a right triangle divides the hypotenuse into two segments, whose lengths are 8 inches and 18 inches. How long is the altitude?

Question 1157995: The altitude drawn to the hypotenuse of a right triangle divides the hypotenuse into
two segments, whose lengths are 8 inches and 18 inches. How long is the altitude?
Found 2 solutions by mananth, josmiceli:
Answer by mananth(16946) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!

.
Answer by josmiceli(19441) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let the other legs of the right triangle =
and
Let the altitude =
------------------------------
One of the rt triangles:
(1)
The other rt triangle:
(2)
The original rt triangle:
(3)
---------------------------------
Plug (2) into (3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
and
(1)
Add (1) and (3)

and
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
The altitude is 12 inches
-----------------------------
check:
(3)
(3)
(3)
and
(2)
(2)
(2)
OK

RELATED QUESTIONS
The altitude drawn to the hypotenuse of a right triangle divides the hypotenuse into two... (answered by jim_thompson5910)
the altitude drawn to the hypotenuse of a right triangle divides the hypotenuse into two... (answered by scott8148)
The altitude to the hypotenuse of a right triangle divides the hypotenuse into segments... (answered by KMST)
The altitude to the hypotenuse of a right triangle divides the hypotenuse into segments... (answered by edjones)
If the altitude drawn to the hypotenuse of a right triangle EFG partitions it into two... (answered by Edwin McCravy,greenestamps)
The altitude of the hypotenuse of a right triangle divides the hypotenuse into 45in. And... (answered by josgarithmetic,MathTherapy)
the altitude to the hypotenuse of a right triangle divides the hypotenuse into two... (answered by KMST)
the altitude to the hypotenuse of a right triangle divides the hypotenuse into segments... (answered by scott8148)
What is the proof for Theorem 7.6 Geometric Mean (Altitude): In a right triangle, the... (answered by richard1234)