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In ΔABC, AB = 16 in, BC = 9 in, AC = 10 in. AD is perpendicular to the extension of BC . Find CD.

User Cam CHN
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The Law of Cosines is useful for this. It tells you
b² = a² +c² -2ac×cos(B)
where the length BD is c×cos(B). Solving for BD, we get
(b² -a² -c²)/(-2a) = BD
However, BD = BC +CD = a +CD, so we really want to find
CD = (a² +c² -b²)/(2a) -a
CD = (c² -a² -b²)/(2a)
Substituting the given numbers, we have
CD = (16² -9² -10²)/(2×9) = 75/18 = 25/6

The length CD is 25/6 = 4 1/6.
User Dharminder
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