Isosceles right triangle Pre-Cal question?

J

John B

New member
If the congruent angles of an isosceles right triangle each measures 52 degrees and the length of the side between them is 4 inches, find the altitude of the triangle.


..I'm confused on whether there are 2 triangles or 1 triangle. If they were 2 triangles put together, wouldn't the line between them be the altitude?
 
1) The question needs to be looked in. It says Isosceles Right Triangle; If so one angle is 90 deg; Hence sum of the other two can be equal to 90 deg; but here it is given as , each of the congruent angles is 52 deg; ==> the sum is 104 deg, which is impossible for a right triangle. Else it is just an Isosceles triangle and not an Isosceles right triangle.
2) If so it is only an isosceles triangle, then base angles are equal with each = 52 deg;
The altitude from the vertex to the base, bisects it.
Hence tan52 = h/2 [Since base = 4 in; half of it = 2 in]

==> h = 2 x tan52 = 2.56 in (nealrly)
 
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