Problema Solution
Compute the altitude of a right triangle with a 12-foot base and a 13-foot hypotenuse.
Answer provided by our tutors
let
a = 12 ft base and one leg of the right trinagle
c = 13 ft hypotenuse
b = h = ? the other leg of the right triangle
From the Pythagorean Theorem we know
a^2 + b^2 = c^2
12^2 + b^2 = 13^2
b^2 = 169 - 144
b^2 = 25
b = 5 ft
the latitude of the right triangle for the 12-foot base is 5 feet.