Question

What is the length of the altitude drawn to the hypotenuse? The figure is not drawn to scale

Answer 1

h = 4∜17

Step-by-step explanation:

In a right triangle, if the legs are a and b, the hypotenuse is c, and the altitude to the hypotenuse is h, then using similar triangles,

a/h = h/H

h^2 = aH

so plug in your numbers. If the two you gave are the legs, then

h^2 = 4*4√17

h = 4∜17