SOLUTION: The altitude drawn to the hypotenuse of a right triangle divides the hypotenuse into
two segments, whose lengths are 8 inches and 18 inches. How long is the altitude?
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two segments, whose lengths are 8 inches and 18 inches. How long is the altitude?
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Question 1157995: The altitude drawn to the hypotenuse of a right triangle divides the hypotenuse into
two segments, whose lengths are 8 inches and 18 inches. How long is the altitude? Found 2 solutions by mananth, josmiceli:Answer by mananth(16946) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! Let the other legs of the right triangle = and
Let the altitude =
------------------------------
One of the rt triangles:
(1)
The other rt triangle:
(2)
The original rt triangle:
(3)
---------------------------------
Plug (2) into (3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
and
(1)
Add (1) and (3)
and
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
The altitude is 12 inches
-----------------------------
check:
(3)
(3)
(3)
and
(2)
(2)
(2)
OK
. 