In this problem, how would I find the value of Z ?
1 answer:
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Answer: 4*sqrt(66)
This is the same as saying
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Explanation:
x = length of segment BD
Because BD is an altitude of triangle ABC, this means the triangle is split into two smaller right triangles which are similar to the original. All three right triangles are similar to one another.
What this leads to is the proportion
CD/BD = BD/AD
Apply substitution and solve for x.
24/x = x/44
24*44 = x*x .... cross multiply
1056 = x^2
x = sqrt(1056)
x = sqrt(16*66)
x = sqrt(16)*sqrt(66)
x = 4*sqrt(66)
Notice how I factored 1056 in such a way that I pulled out the largest perfect square factor (16). Then I used the rule to break up the root.