Question 85405
I've been working on this all day. And i need some assistance. Can someone please help me? 
A right triangle has legs of lengths 9 and 12
(a) Its hypotenuse has a length of_______
a^2 + b^2 = c^2
a is a side
b is the other side
c is the hypotenuse
9^2 + 12^2 = c^2
81 + 144 = c^2
225 = c^2
15 = c
(b) The altitude to the hypotenuse divides it into segments of lengths___ and ____
The altitude strikes the hypotenuse at a right angle. Assume the larger length of the hypotenuse is x and the smaller portion is 15 - x. Knowing your theorm, you should get:
12^2 = (x)15
9.6 = x
You have the lengths: x and 15 - x
You have the lengths: 9.6 and 5.4
(c) The altitude to the hypotenuse has length_____
Knowing your theorm:
h^2 = 9.6 * 5.4
h = 7.2