# Math Help - Triangle Measurements

1. ## Triangle Measurements

Ah, sorry for the general title I can't remember what the name for this stuff is. I made a picture of 3 of the problems (attached) on my study guide for my 9 weeks test tomorrow b/c I need help. I can't figure anything out. I don't need the answers (though it would help) I need someone to explain it so I can do it on other problems tomorrow. Thanks

2. Originally Posted by leedownen15
Ah, sorry for the general title I can't remember what the name for this stuff is. I made a picture of 3 of the problems (attached) on my study guide for my 9 weeks test tomorrow b/c I need help. I can't figure anything out. I don't need the answers (though it would help) I need someone to explain it so I can do it on other problems tomorrow. Thanks
For all three of these questions you need to look at all of the right angle triangles you have (there are 3 in each) and apply pythagoras theorem to them. You will then end up with a series of equations that hopefully you can solve for the required unknown.

Hopefully that's enough to get you started, if you need more help just say so.

3. similar right triangles ...

in all three problems, let the inner altitude have length = $a$

1. $\frac{4}{a} = \frac{a}{6}$

2. $\frac{2}{a} = \frac{a}{7}$ solve for $a$ , then use Pythagoras to find $x$

3. use Pythagoras to find $a$ , then $\frac{3}{a} = \frac{a}{y}$