AD and BE are altitudes of triangle ABC. If AC = 10, BC = 18, and AD = 5, then find BE.
A
5 10
B D C
18
Area of triangle = (1/2) ( AD) ( BC) = (1/2) ( 5) ( 18) = 45
Also ....
Area of triangle = (1/2) ( AC) (BE
45 = (1/2) (10) (BE)
90 = 10 BE
BE = 90 / 10 = 9
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Angle A = sin-1(5/10)
Altitude BE = sin(A) * BC