Question

A base angle of an isosceles triangle measures 30, and the length of one of the legs is 12. What is the length of the altitude drawn to the base of the triangle?

Answer 1

Answer: 6

Step-by-step explanation:

From the question, a base angle of isosceles triangle is 30°.We are also informed that one of the legs is 12. The altitude is opposite to the angle having a measure of 30°. The hypoteneous in the right angled triangle which is formed by drawing the altitude is 12. This will be calculated as:

Sin = opposite/hypotenuse

Sin 30°=length of the altitude/12

Note that sin 30° = 0.5

0.5 = length of the altitude/12

length of the altitude = 12 × 0.5

Hence, length of altitude = 6