Question

A yield sign is an equilateral triangle with a side length of 36 inches. What is the height (h) of the sign? Leave your answer in simplest radical form.

Answer 1

18
`√(3)` inches

Explanation:

Applying,

Pythagoras theorem,

a²= b²+c²

Where a = hypotenus, b = base of the triangle, c = height.

make c the subject of the equation

c = √(a²-b²)................. Equation 2

From the diagram attached,

Given: a = 36 in, b = (36/2) in = 18 in

Substitute these values into equation 2

c = √(36²-18²)

c = √(1296-324)

c = √(972)

c = √(972)

c = √(324×3)

c = 18
`√(3)` inches