SOLUTION: if you have a isosceles triangle with the legs being 9 and the base is 10 find the altitude. how do you solve it. we learn a equation leg squared = half part and base but if you so

Algebra ->  Triangles -> SOLUTION: if you have a isosceles triangle with the legs being 9 and the base is 10 find the altitude. how do you solve it. we learn a equation leg squared = half part and base but if you so      Log On


   

Question 570878: if you have a isosceles triangle with the legs being 9 and the base is 10 find the altitude. how do you solve it. we learn a equation leg squared = half part and base but if you solve it you wouldn't get the base to be 10.
Found 2 solutions by mananth, stanbon:
Answer by mananth(16946) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
height of isoscles triangle = sqrt(a^2-(b/2)^2)

where a is the length of the leg
and b the base
h=+sqrt%289%5E2-%2825%2F4%29%29

h=+sqrt%28%28324-25%29%2F4%29

h=sqrt%28299%2F4%29
h=8.64

Answer by stanbon(75887) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
if you have an isosceles triangle with the legs being 9 and the base is 10 find the altitude.
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Draw the picture:
Draw a perpendicular bisector to the base: (that is the height)
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You have two right triangles with base = 5 ; height = "h" ;
and hypotenuse = 9
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Pythagoras:
9^2 = 5^2 + h^2
h^2 = 81-25 = 56
h = sqrt(56) (that is the altitude of the isosceles triangle)
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Cheers,
Stan H.