document.write( "Question 220233: Find the altitude of an equilateral triangle that has side lengths of 4y. Express your answer in simplest radical form.
\n" ); document.write( "I am a homeschooling mom and don't remeber how to do this. Our book doesnt help either.
\n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #165379 by solver91311(24713)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "If you construct an altitude of an equilateral triangle, then the altitude forms a right angle with the base. That means that you have now formed two 30-60-90 triangles, i.e. right triangles where the hypotenuse is one side of the equilateral triangle and the short leg is exactly one-half the measure of the hypotenuse. Now having a hypotenuse of 4 and a short leg of 2, we can use Pythagoras to calculate the measure of the long leg which is the same as the altitude of the equilateral triangle:\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "In general, if the measure of the length of a side of an equilateral triangle is , then the measure of an altitude is: \r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "John
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" );