In triangle and . Point on divides it into segments of length and . What is the length of segment ?
Source: NCTM Mathematics Teacher 2006
SOLUTION
Using the Heron’s area formula to calculate the area of triangle
Area = where
Area =
is the altitude of triangle
Area =
Using the Pythagorean theorem in right triangle
Using the Pythagorean theorem in right triangle
Answer:
Alternative solution
Using the law of cosines in triangle
Using the law of cosines in triangle
Multiply Eq. by and add Eq.
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