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)\"\" \"About 
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how do you find the length of an altitude if you already have the length of all sides?
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\n" ); document.write( "Sketch a triangle with a base = 10 and sides 6 and 7\r
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\n" ); document.write( "Draw an altitude from the vertex opposite the base to the base.
\n" ); document.write( "That is an altitude (h).
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\n" ); document.write( "The base now has 2 segments: x and 10-x
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\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
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\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
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\n" ); document.write( "Simplify that and substitute into x^2 + h^2 = 6^2 to solve for \"h\":
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\n" ); document.write( "Cheers,
\n" ); document.write( "Stan H.
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