Question

The side of an equilateral triangle is 16 cm. Find the length of its altitude.

• A. 4√3
• B. 8√3
• C. 2√3
• D. √3

Answer 1

Answer:

B. 8√3

To find the altitude of an equilateral triangle, you can use the standard geometric formula derived from the Pythagorean theorem.

1. Identify the Formula

For an equilateral triangle with side $a$, the altitude ($h$) is given by:
$h = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} \times a$

2. Substitute the Values

Given side $a = 16 \text{ cm}$:
$h = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} \times 16$

3. Final Calculation

$h = 8\sqrt{3} \text{ cm}$

If you need the decimal value (using $\sqrt{3} \approx 1.732$):
$8 \times 1.732 = \mathbf{13.856 \text{ cm}}$