SOLUTION: Make a sketch for each problem. Approximate each square root to the nearest hundredth. Find the area of a triangle with three sides of length 4.

Algebra ->  Pythagorean-theorem -> SOLUTION: Make a sketch for each problem. Approximate each square root to the nearest hundredth. Find the area of a triangle with three sides of length 4.      Log On


   

Question 1030500: Make a sketch for each problem. Approximate each square root to the nearest hundredth.
Find the area of a triangle with three sides of length 4.
Answer by josgarithmetic(39617) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Segment connecting one vertex to the midpoint of opposite side forms a shared leg of two special right triangles. Legs will be 2, y, and 4. One of the leg lengths, that being shared, is the value of y. You should be able to draw and label the description with no trouble.

Either of the two right triangles:
2%5E2%2By%5E2=4%5E2
What is y?

Once y is solved, find the area of the whole equilateral triangle:
%281%2F2%294%2Ay-------here, the base being 4, and the height or altitude being y, for whatever value you earlier found for y.