Question

What is the length of the altitude of the equilateral triangle below?

Answer 1

F) 4√3

Explanation:

The altitude of the triangle creates a right triangle. The right triangle has a leg of 4 and a hypotenuse of 8. Using the Pythagorean theorem,

a²+4² = 8²

a²+16 = 64

Subtract 16 from each side:

a²+16-16 = 64-16

a² = 48

Take the square root of each side:

√(a²) = √(48)

a = √(16*3)

a = 4√3

Answer 2

a^2 + 4^2 = 8^2 --> a = 4·√3