Question 513 Marks
Find the length of altitude $AD$ of an isosceles $\triangle\text{ABC}$ in which $AB = AC = 2a$ units and $BC = a$ units.
Answer
View full question & answer→Given: $\triangle\text{ABC}$ in which $AB = AC = 2a$ units and $BC = a$ units.
Const: Draw $\text{AD}\perp\text{BC}$ then $D$ is the midpoint of $BC.$

In $\triangle\text{ABC}$
$\text{BC}=\text{a}$
and $\text{BD}=\frac{\text{BC}}{2}=\frac{\text{a}}{2}$
In $\triangle\text{ADB},$
$(\text{AB})^2=\text{AD}^2+\text{BD}^2$
$\text{AD}^2=\Big(\text{AB}^2-\text{BD}^2\Big)$
$\text{AD}^2=\bigg[(\text{2a})^2-\Big(\frac{\text{a}}{2}\Big)^2\bigg]$
$\text{AD}^2=\bigg[4\text{a}^2-\frac{\text{a}^2}{4}\bigg]=\frac{15\text{a}^2}{4}$
$\Rightarrow\text{AD}=\frac{\text{a}\sqrt{15}}{2}\text{units}$
Const: Draw $\text{AD}\perp\text{BC}$ then $D$ is the midpoint of $BC.$

In $\triangle\text{ABC}$
$\text{BC}=\text{a}$
and $\text{BD}=\frac{\text{BC}}{2}=\frac{\text{a}}{2}$
In $\triangle\text{ADB},$
$(\text{AB})^2=\text{AD}^2+\text{BD}^2$
$\text{AD}^2=\Big(\text{AB}^2-\text{BD}^2\Big)$
$\text{AD}^2=\bigg[(\text{2a})^2-\Big(\frac{\text{a}}{2}\Big)^2\bigg]$
$\text{AD}^2=\bigg[4\text{a}^2-\frac{\text{a}^2}{4}\bigg]=\frac{15\text{a}^2}{4}$
$\Rightarrow\text{AD}=\frac{\text{a}\sqrt{15}}{2}\text{units}$
