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Let be a right-angle with an hypotenuse lenght of 10 cm, and the altitude to the hypotenuse equal to 6cm;

(This image is not drawn to scale)

What is the area of the triangle?

If you want some piece of advice: don't rush and try to draw this triangle to scale. And no, the answer is NOT 30.

 Mar 6, 2016

Best Answer 

 #4
avatar+118673 
+24

Don't worry Solveit.

 

Einstein Jr is rude and egotistical beyond belief.  He is also not half as bright as he likes to consider himself.

 

The words and the picture for this question do not belong together.  The question is nonsense.

The trinangle in the pic with a hypotenuse of 10 has a altitude to the hypotenuse of considerably less than 6.

 

You have correctly found the area of the biggest triangle in the picture.  (you should have aded cm^2 though)

 

Heavens only knows what triangle Einstein Jackass wants you to find.

 Mar 6, 2016
 #1
avatar+2498 
+10

i think:

 

the hyp of the bigger triangle is devided into two parts  lets say one of them is "m" and the other is 'n'

so we can find m using pytha. theorem:

\(10^2-6^2=8^2\\ m=8\)

 

and there is a formula that:

\(a^2=m*(m+n)\\ a=10\\ m=8\\ 10^2=8*(8+n)\\ n=\frac92 \)

 

\(c=m+n\\ c=8+4.5=12.5\)

 

let s use again pyth. theorem:

\(12.5^2-10^2=7.5^2\\ b=7.5\)

 

\(A_{triangle}=\frac{7.5*10}{2}=37.5\)

 

another easier way to do that:

\(h^2=m*n\\ 6^2=8*n\\ n=\frac92\)

 Mar 6, 2016
 #2
avatar+870 
0

That's not right.

Another hint? If you find a value for the area, then you are wrong.

 Mar 6, 2016
 #3
avatar+2498 
0

there s a bunch of the way to do that

what do you mean is my answer 37.5 is wrong ? (may be i did a calculation mistake :/  )

Solveit  Mar 6, 2016
 #4
avatar+118673 
+24
Best Answer

Don't worry Solveit.

 

Einstein Jr is rude and egotistical beyond belief.  He is also not half as bright as he likes to consider himself.

 

The words and the picture for this question do not belong together.  The question is nonsense.

The trinangle in the pic with a hypotenuse of 10 has a altitude to the hypotenuse of considerably less than 6.

 

You have correctly found the area of the biggest triangle in the picture.  (you should have aded cm^2 though)

 

Heavens only knows what triangle Einstein Jackass wants you to find.

Melody  Mar 6, 2016
 #5
avatar+129852 
+10

The height of the large triangle can be found thusly :

 

6 / 8  = h /10       cross-multiply

 

60  = 8h      divide both sides by 8

 

7.5  = h

 

So...the area  =

 

1/2 (10) (7.5)  =

 

37.5  cm^2

 

 

cool cool cool

 Mar 8, 2016
 #6
avatar+2498 
0

cool i forget about similar triangles :/

Solveit  Mar 8, 2016
 #7
avatar+870 
+6

The answer is simple: the triangle can't have an area because there is no such triangle.

Why? That's because any right triangle (I made a typo in the question, I apologize for that) can be inscribed in a circle with the hypotenuse as its diameter.

So, if the triangle is inscribed in a circle with a diameter of 10 cm (the lenght of the hypotenuse), then the max lenght of the altitude to the hypotenuse is 5 cm; 6 cm is bigger than 5 cm, so the triangle can not exist.

 

So, the ONLY correct answer is: there is NO such triangle. Anyone who gives me a value is wrong.

 Mar 16, 2016

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