document.write( "Question 256818: An isosceles triangle has a base of 8 m. The length of the altitude to the base is 3 m. Find the lengths of the congruent sides. \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #188852 by drk(1908) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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First draw an isosceles triangle with base 8 and altitude 3. Notice we have two right triangles - each with legs of 3 and 4. Using Pythagorean theorem, we get
\n" ); document.write( " $\"a%5E2+%2B+b%5E2+=+c%5E2\"$
\n" ); document.write( "replacing with 3 and 4, we get
\n" ); document.write( " $\"3%5E2+%2B+4%5E2+%2B+c%5E2\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"9+%2B+16+=+c%5E2\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"25+=+c%5E2\"$
\n" ); document.write( "Now c = 5.
\n" ); document.write( "The congruent sides are 5. \n" ); document.write( "

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