SOLUTION: What is the length of an altitude of an equilateral triangle with side lengths 8 route 3

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Question 878055: What is the length of an altitude of an equilateral triangle with side lengths 8 route 3
Answer by richwmiller(17219) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
What does "route 3" mean? Do you mean "root 3"
If you mean 8+sqrt%283%29 you should say so.
If a side is 8
the base is 8
we want half of the base which is 4
so we have
8^2=4^2+a^2
64=16+a^2
48=a^2
a=6.9282032302755091741097853660235
If you mean 8+sqrt%283%29
8+sqrt%283%29^2=(4+sqrt%283%29)^2+a^2
64*3=16*3+a^2
192=48+a^2
144=a^2
a=12