Question

When an altitude is drawn to the hypotenuse of a right triangle, the lengths of the segments of the hypotenuse are 16 and 25. What is the length of the altitude?

Answer 1

It's 20 right?

Answer 2

nope

Answer 3

Can you help? please?

Answer 4

just apply Pythagorean theoram

Answer 5

I get 29.7

Answer 6

...and it isn't an option...

Answer 7

@Hero

Answer 8

I just need help with the concept so I can do the 24 other questions on my own...

Answer 9

Do you have a diagram?

Answer 10

No, there isn't one provided...the options are
20
25
41
50

Answer 11

Should it be like this?

Answer 12

now the possible answer is 20

Answer 13

I guess @ujjwal

Answer 14

beacause the altitude can't be more than length of hypotnese

Answer 15

The correct answer is 20.

In a rectangular triangle, when the hypotenuse is devided by the altitude x into two pieces I will call p and q, the following applies:

\[h ^{2} = p q\]

In German it is called altitude law of Euklid.

Answer 16

So 41 divided is 20? What? :O

Answer 17

No, it is meant like this:

No, but the square root of (16 times 25) is 20. AFAIK.

Answer 18

So whenever I come across a probllem like this I just multiply the two hypotenuses and square the solution to get my answer?

Answer 19

no, you multiply the two parts of the one hypothenusis and then take the sqare root of it.

Answer 20

Okay, thanks! :)I understand now :)

Answer 21

Great! Happy to help.