1) The vertex angle of an isosceles triangle is 120 degrees. The base length is 24 feet. Find the length of the altitude to the base rounded to the nearest foot.
2)The base angles of an isosceles triangle are each 55 degrees. The altitude drawn to the base is 20 cm. Find the length of the base of the triangle.
1) The vertex angle of an isosceles triangle is 120 degrees. The base length is 24 feet. Find the length of the altitude to the base rounded to the nearest foot.
Since the vertex is 120, the total of the other two is 60, therefore one of them is 30.
Draw that altitude. It bisects the base. This forms a right triangle with the 30 angle and an adjacent side of 12.
Tangent of 30 = altitude / 12
0.5774 = altitude / 12
altitude = 12 x 0.5774 = 6.9288 rounded to the nearest foot is 7 feet
