+1234 We have a triangle $\triangle ABC$ and a point $K$ on $BC$ such that $AK$ is an altitude to $\triangle ABC$. If $AC = 8,$ $BK = 2$, and $CK = 3,$ then what is $AB$?
+195 Sure! We can find the length AB using the Pythagorean Theorem applied to right triangles ABK and ACK as shown in the diagram below.
[asy] pair A, B, C, K; A = (0,0); B = (0,8); C = extension(A,A+(8,0),B,B+(3,0),false); K = foot(C,A,B); draw(A--B--C--cycle); draw(A--K); label("A",A,SW); label("B",B,NW); label("C",C,SE); label("K",K,S); label("8",(A+C)/2,W); label("2",(B+K)/2,W); label("3",(C+K)/2,E); label("AB",(A+B)/2,NE); [/asy]
Theorem: The Pythagorean Theorem states that in a right triangle, the square of the hypotenuse (the side opposite the right angle) is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides.
Formulas:
AB2=AC2+BK2 (because △ABK is a right triangle)
AK2=AC2−CK2 (because △ACK is a right triangle)
Calculations:
AB2=82+22=68
Since AK is the altitude, it splits the base BC into segments BK and CK, so AB is the hypotenuse of △ABK.
AB=AB2=68=8.25 (round to two decimal places)
Answer: The length of side AB is 8.25 units.
