In an isosceles triangle, if the equal sides are each 10 cm and the base is 12 c
Practice Questions
Q1
In an isosceles triangle, if the equal sides are each 10 cm and the base is 12 cm, what is the height of the triangle?
8 cm
6 cm
5 cm
4 cm
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
In an isosceles triangle, if the equal sides are each 10 cm and the base is 12 cm, what is the height of the triangle?
Step 1: Identify the triangle as isosceles, with two equal sides of 10 cm and a base of 12 cm.
Step 2: Split the triangle in half vertically to create two right triangles.
Step 3: The base of each right triangle is half of the original base, so it is 12 cm / 2 = 6 cm.
Step 4: The height of the triangle is the vertical line from the top vertex to the base.
Step 5: Use the Pythagorean theorem, which states that in a right triangle, a^2 + b^2 = c^2, where c is the hypotenuse (10 cm), a is the height, and b is half the base (6 cm).
Step 6: Set up the equation: height^2 + 6^2 = 10^2.
Step 7: Calculate 6^2 = 36 and 10^2 = 100.
Step 8: Substitute these values into the equation: height^2 + 36 = 100.
Step 9: Solve for height^2 by subtracting 36 from both sides: height^2 = 100 - 36.
Step 10: Calculate 100 - 36 = 64.
Step 11: Find the height by taking the square root of 64: height = √64 = 8 cm.