GMAT Math : DSQ: Calculating the height of a right triangle

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Dsq: Calculating The Height Of A Right Triangle

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 is a right triangle where  is a right angle. What is the length of the height ?

(1) 

(1) 

Possible Answers:

Each statement alone is sufficient

Statement 1 alone is sufficient

Statement 2 alone is sufficient

Both statements together are sufficient

Statements 1 and 2 together are not sufficient.

Correct answer:

Both statements together are sufficient

Explanation:

To know the length of the height triangle, we would need to know the lengths of the triangle or the angles to have more information about the triangle.

Statement 1 only gives us a length of a side. There is nothing more we can calculate from what we know so far.

Statement 2 alone tells us that the triangle is isoceles. Indeed, ABC is a right triangle, if one of its angle is 45 degrees, than so must be another. Now, we are able to tell that the length of the height would be the same as half the hypothenuse. A single side would be sufficient to answer the problem. Statment 1 gives us that information. Therefore, both statements together are sufficient.

Example Question #2 : Dsq: Calculating The Height Of A Right Triangle

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What is the length of the height  of right triangle , where   is a right angle?

(1) 

(2) 

Possible Answers:

Statements (1) and (2) together are not sufficient.

Each statement alone is sufficient

Statement (1) alone is sufficient

Statement (2) alone is sufficient

Both statements together are sufficient

Correct answer:

Both statements together are sufficient

Explanation:

Since we are told that triangle ABC is a right triangle, to find the height, we just need the length of at least 2 other sides. From there, we can find the length of the height since in a right triangle, the height divides the triangle into two triangles with the same proportions. In other words . Therefore, we need to know the length of the sides of the triangle.

Example Question #3 : Dsq: Calculating The Height Of A Right Triangle

Consider right .

I) The longest side, , has a length of  meters.

II) .

What is the height of ?

Possible Answers:

Statement I is sufficient to answer the question, but statement II is not sufficient to answer the question.

Both statements are needed to answer the question.

Statement II is sufficient to answer the question, but statement I is not sufficient to answer the question.

Neither statement is sufficient to answer the question. More information is needed.

Either statement is sufficient to answer the question.

Correct answer:

Both statements are needed to answer the question.

Explanation:

The height of a right triangle will be one of its side lengths.

I) tells us the length of our hypotenuse.

II) gives us the other two angle measurements.

They are both 45 degrees, which makes JKL a 45/45/90 triangle with side length ratios of  .

Which we can use to find the height.

Example Question #4 : Dsq: Calculating The Height Of A Right Triangle

What is the height of the right triangle?

  1. The area of the right triangle is .
  2. The base of the right triangle measures .
Possible Answers:

Statements 1 and 2 are not sufficient, and additional data is needed to answer the question.

Statement 1 alone is sufficient, but statement 2 alone is not sufficient to answer the question.

Both statements taken together are sufficient to answer the question, but neither statement alone is sufficient.

Statement 2 alone is sufficient, but statement 1 alone is not sufficient to answer the question.

Each statement alone is sufficient to answer the question.

Correct answer:

Both statements taken together are sufficient to answer the question, but neither statement alone is sufficient.

Explanation:

Statement 1: 

More information is required to answer the question because our base and height can be  and  or  and  

 

Statement 2: We're given the base so we can narrow down the information from Statement 1 to  and . If the base is , then the height must be 

Both statements taken together are sufficient to answer the question, but neither statement alone is sufficient.

Example Question #1 : Dsq: Calculating The Height Of A Right Triangle

What is the height of the rigth triangle?

  1. The area of the right triangle is .
  2. The perimeter of the right triangle is 
Possible Answers:

Statement 1 alone is sufficient, but statement 2 alone is not sufficient to answer the question.

Statements 1 and 2 are not sufficient, and additional data is needed to answer the question.

Both statements taken together are sufficient to answer the question, but neither statement alone is sufficient.

Statement 2 alone is sufficient, but statement 1 alone is not sufficient to answer the question.

Each statement alone is sufficient to answer the question.

Correct answer:

Statements 1 and 2 are not sufficient, and additional data is needed to answer the question.

Explanation:

Statement 1: 

Additional information is required because our base and height can be  and  and , or  and 

Statement 2: 

Even if we solve for our two values, we will not be able to determine which is the base and which is the height.

 

Statements 1 and 2 are not sufficient, and additional data is needed to answer the question.

 

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