SOLUTION: The premiter of an equilateral triangle is 27 meters. What is the length of an altitude. Round to the nearest tenth??

Algebra ->  Triangles -> SOLUTION: The premiter of an equilateral triangle is 27 meters. What is the length of an altitude. Round to the nearest tenth??       Log On


   

Question 517025: The premiter of an equilateral triangle is 27 meters. What is the length of an altitude. Round to the nearest tenth??
Answer by JBarnum(2146) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
equalateral triagle means all sides are the same
a+b+c=a+a+a
so 3a=27
a=9
altitude is the line that is drawn from the top point to a 90 degree angle at the base. this splits the base exactly in half so one side is 4.5
b= the altitude line and 9= hypot
a%5E2%2Bb%5E2=c%5E2
4.5%5E2%2B+b%5E2=9%5E2
20.25%2B+b%5E2=81
b%5E2=60.75
sqrt%28b%5E2%29=sqrt%2860.75%29
b=7.7942
highlight%28b=7.8%29