Question 224302: The base of an isosceles triangle is 21 centimeters long. The altitude to the base is 9 centimeters long. What is the approximate measure of a base angle of the triangle
Answer by RAY100(1637)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! A rough sketch helps to visualize.
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the base of the isosceles triangle is 21, and the median from the opposite vertex is the height,,, which is 9
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This causes a right triangle, legs 9 and 10.5 (21/2)
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The base angle of the triangle has, tan x = opp/adj = h/(b/2) =9/10.5 = .8571
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the angle x = tan^-1 (.8571) = 40.60 degrees
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check....9/10.5 = tan 40.6,,,,.8571,,,,,ok
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