document.write( "Question 268259: in an isosceles triangle,each of the equal sides measures 29 inches and the altitude drawn to the base measure 21 inches.find the length of the base \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #196798 by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740)![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! I got the solution of one problem mixed up with another problem. Let's see if I can straighten this mess out \n" ); document.write( "; \n" ); document.write( "in an isosceles triangle, each of the equal sides measures 29 inches and the altitude drawn to the base measure 21 inches.find the length of the base \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "We can use pythag: a^2 + b^2 = c^2, it consist of two equal right triangles \n" ); document.write( "where \n" ); document.write( "a = half the base \n" ); document.write( "b = 21 \n" ); document.write( "c = 29 \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "a^2 + 21^2 = 29^2 \n" ); document.write( "a^2 + 441 = 841 \n" ); document.write( "a^2 = 841 - 441 \n" ); document.write( "a^2 = 400 \n" ); document.write( "a = \n" ); document.write( "a = 20 in is half the base \n" ); document.write( "then 40 inches is the length of the base \n" ); document.write( " |