Question

I can’t figure out the answer to this problem, someone please help!

The perpendicular from the vertex of the right angle of a right triangle divides the hypotenuse into parts of 23.04 and 1.96 m. Find the length of the perpendicular and the length of the two sides of the triangle. (Draw the figure for this problem. Then, compare it to the answer after you’ve completed the problem.)

Answer 1

Therefore, the length of the perpendicular CD is 8.4 m, and the lengths of the two sides of the triangle are AC = BC = 22.8 m.

Explanation:

Let ABC be the right triangle with right angle at C, and let CD be the perpendicular from C to AB, as shown in the attached image.

We are given that CD divides AB into two parts of 23.04 m and 1.96 m. Let x be the length of CD. Then, by the Pythagorean Theorem:

AC^2 + x^2 = 23.04^2 (1)

BC^2 + x^2 = 1.96^2 (2)

Since AC = BC (since the triangle is a right triangle with equal legs), we can subtract equation (2) from equation (1) to get:

AC^2 - BC^2 = 23.04^2 - 1.96^2

Since AC = BC, we have:

2AC^2 = 23.04^2 - 1.96^2

Solving for AC, we get:

AC = BC = sqrt((23.04^2 - 1.96^2)/2) = 22.8 m

Now, we can use equation (1) to solve for x:

AC^2 + x^2 = 23.04^2

x^2 = 23.04^2 - AC^2 = 23.04^2 - 22.8^2

x = sqrt(23.04^2 - 22.8^2) = 8.4 m

Therefore, the length of the perpendicular CD is 8.4 m, and the lengths of the two sides of the triangle are AC = BC = 22.8 m.