Question

What are the values of a and b?

Answer 1

You need the right triangle altitude theorem.
Look it up. It has two parts. It'll help you get the answers to this problem.

Answer 2

to find 'a', you need to solve the proportion (this proportion is valid because the three triangles are similar)

12/a = a/27

once you know the value of 'a', you use it to find b

Answer 3

Ashley you can use what you have leaned in previous questions. So there are two similar triangles. After this check what Jim did

Answer 4

Sorry I went AFK.

so... a = 18

Answer 5

how do i use that to find b?

Answer 6

focus on the smaller lower right triangle with legs of 'a', 12 and b

b is the hypotenuse

use the pythagorean theorem to get


a^2 + 12^2 = b^2

18^2 + 12^2 = b^2


keep going to solve for b

Answer 7

a =18
b = 6√13

:)

Answer 8

perfect

Answer 9

thank you!

Answer 10

you're welcome