document.write( "Question 613487: how do you find the length of an altitude if you already have the length of all sides? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #386056 by stanbon(75887) ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! how do you find the length of an altitude if you already have the length of all sides? \n" ); document.write( "----- \n" ); document.write( "Sketch a triangle with a base = 10 and sides 6 and 7\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "------------------- \n" ); document.write( "Draw an altitude from the vertex opposite the base to the base. \n" ); document.write( "That is an altitude (h). \n" ); document.write( "--- \n" ); document.write( "The base now has 2 segments: x and 10-x \n" ); document.write( "--- \n" ); document.write( "Use Pythagoras to get: \n" ); document.write( "x^2 + h^2 = 6^2 \n" ); document.write( "(10-x)^2 + h^2 = 7^2 \n" ); document.write( "--- \n" ); document.write( "Subtract and solve for \"x\": \n" ); document.write( "(10-x)^2-x^2 = 7^2 -6^2 \n" ); document.write( "100-20x = 13 \n" ); document.write( "20x = 87 \n" ); document.write( "x = 87/20 \n" ); document.write( "--- \n" ); document.write( "Simplify that and substitute into x^2 + h^2 = 6^2 to solve for \"h\": \n" ); document.write( "------------------------------------ \n" ); document.write( "Cheers, \n" ); document.write( "Stan H. \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " |