Basic Geometry : How to find the height of a right triangle

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Basic Geometry

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Height Of A Right Triangle

A right triangle has a hypotenuse of 18 inches and a base of 12 inches.  What is the height of the triangle in inches?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

We can find one leg of a right triangle when we have the length of the hypotenuse and the other leg.  Square the hypotenuse and the known leg.  Then, subtract the squared length of the leg from the squared length of the hypotenuse.  Finally, find the square root of the result.

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Height Of A Right Triangle

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If c is not the base of the triangle, which of the following is the height?

Possible Answers:

None of the other answers

 or 

Correct answer:

 or 

Explanation:

If  is not the base, that makes either  or  the base. If either  or  is the base, the right angle is on the bottom, so  or  respectively will be perpendicular. The height of a triangle is the distance from the base to the highest point, and in a right triangle that will be found by the side adjoining the base at a right angle. So if the base is , then  and vise versa.

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Height Of A Right Triangle

The area of a right triangle is 28. If one leg has a length of 7, what is the length of the other leg?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

We begin with the formula for the area of a triangle.

We further realize that the two legs of the triangle are the base and height; therefore, substituting what we know we get

We can then solve by simply dividing.

We have found our height and thus the second leg of our triangle.

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Height Of A Right Triangle

If the area of a right triangle is , and the base of the right triangle is , what is the height of the right triangle?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Recall how to find the area of a right triangle:

Now, we are going to manipulate the equation to solve for height.

Now, plug in the information given by the question about the values of the area and base of the triangle to find the height.

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Height Of A Right Triangle

If the area of a right triangle is , and the base of the triangle is , what is the height of the triangle?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Recall how to find the area of a right triangle:

Now, we are going to manipulate the equation to solve for height.

Now, plug in the information given by the question about the values of the area and base of the triangle to find the height.

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Height Of A Right Triangle

If the area of a right triangle is , and the base of the triangle is , what is the height of the triangle?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Recall how to find the area of a right triangle:

Now, we are going to manipulate the equation to solve for height.

Now, plug in the information given by the question about the values of the area and base of the triangle to find the height.

Example Question #3 : How To Find The Height Of A Right Triangle

If the area of a right triangle is , and the base of the triangle is , what is the height of the triangle?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Recall how to find the area of a right triangle:

Now, we are going to manipulate the equation to solve for height.

Now, plug in the information given by the question about the values of the area and base of the triangle to find the height.

Example Question #4 : How To Find The Height Of A Right Triangle

If the area of a right triangle is , and the base of the triangle is , what is the height of the triangle?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Recall how to find the area of a right triangle:

Now, we are going to manipulate the equation to solve for height.

Now, plug in the information given by the question about the values of the area and base of the triangle to find the height.

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Height Of A Right Triangle

If the area of a right triangle is , and the base of the triangle is , what is the height of the triangle?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Recall how to find the area of a right triangle:

Now, we are going to manipulate the equation to solve for height.

Now, plug in the information given by the question about the values of the area and base of the triangle to find the height.

Example Question #5 : How To Find The Height Of A Right Triangle

If the area of a right triangle is , and the base of the triangle is , what is the height of the triangle?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Recall how to find the area of a right triangle:

Now, we are going to manipulate the equation to solve for height.

Now, plug in the information given by the question about the values of the area and base of the triangle to find the height.

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