formula to figure out h

[baselramjet]

isosceles triangle- two angles of 52 degrees and the base of the triangle is 4 inches. Find the altitude of the triangle.

What is the formula to find h (altitude)?

 

[pka]

\(\displaystyle \L
h = 2\tan \left( {52^ \circ } \right)\)

Do you know why that is the answer?

 

[baselramjet]

This is the pythagorean theorem that I found, but I do not know how to subsitute 'a' and 'b' with the equation I wrote earlier...

\(\displaystyle \L h\, =\, \sqrt{b^2\, -\, \frac{1}{4}\,a^2}\)
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Edited by stapel -- Reason for edit: Removing hotlink to other math site.

 

[baselramjet]

\(\displaystyle \L
h = 2\tan \left( {52^ \circ } \right)\)

Do you know why that is the answer?

2.56?

why is it the answer? Because the height can be found using the definition of a tangent of an angle?

height=1/[2tan(180/n)]?

 

[baselramjet]

\(\displaystyle \L
h = 2\tan \left( {52^ \circ } \right)\)

Do you know why that is the answer?

Is that your final answer?

~Ashley

 

[stapel]

Is that your final answer?

Until you answer the tutor's question, probably "yes".

Eliz.

 

[baselramjet]

Is that your final answer?

Until you answer the tutor's question, probably "yes".

Eliz.

Then I guess my answer would be "no-I've been doing my assignments most of the day and my brain is frying" in response to PKA's "why that is the answer?"

Can you lead me in the right direction as to why? Please.

~Ashley

 

[Denis]

...because 2TAN(52) = sqrt{[(4SIN(52) / SIN(76)]^2 - 4}

Ahem :shock:

a = equal sides, h = height: Ashley, if you went to the trouble of drawing the triangle, then the height line, you'd see that you have 2 right triangles with
legs 2 and h and hypotenuse a: a^2 = h^2 + 4