Question

A right triangle has an altitude from the right angle to the hypotenuse. The altitude splits the hypotenuse into two segments with lengths of 16 units and 4 units. Find the length of the altitude. (1 point)

Answer 1

Use the geometric mean property: the altitude h satisfies h^2 = (segment1)(segment2). So h = sqrt(16·4) = sqrt(64) = 8. Thus the altitude is 8 units.