SOLUTION: ABC is an equilateral triangle in which BC=2cm. Find the perpendicular distance from A to BC.

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Question 989149: ABC is an equilateral triangle in which BC=2cm. Find the perpendicular distance from A to BC.
Answer by macston(5194) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
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The perpendicular forms a right triangle with hypotenuse AB=2cm,
one leg is 1/2(BC)=1cm.
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Let c=AB=2cm, b=1/2(BC)=1cm, a=perpendicular distance from A to BC
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a%5E2%2Bb%5E2=c%5E2
a%5E2=c%5E2-b%5E2
a=sqrt%28c%5E2-b%5E2%29
a=sqrt%28%282cm%29%5E2-%281cm%29%5E2%29
a=sqrt%284cm%5E2-1cm%5E2%29
a=sqrt%283cm%5E2%29
a=sqrt%283%29cm
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ANSWER: The perpendicular distance is sqrt%283%29cm.