Given right triangle A, B, CABC with altitude start overline, B, D, end overline

BD
drawn to hypotenuse start overline, A, C, end overline
AC
. If A, D, equals, 7AD=7 and A, C, equals, 13, commaAC=13, what is the length of start overline, A, B, end overline
AB
in simplest radical form?

1 answer

To find the length of AB, we can use the Pythagorean theorem.

Assuming AC is the hypotenuse, we can set up the equation:

AD^2 + BD^2 = AC^2

7^2 + BD^2 = 13^2

49 + BD^2 = 169

BD^2 = 120

BD = √120

BD = 2√30

Now, since BD is the altitude to the hypotenuse, it divides the hypotenuse AC into two segments in the ratio of the adjacent sides of the triangle. Therefore:

AB/BD = AD/DB = 7/2

AB/2√30 = 7/2

AB = 7√30

So, the length of AB in simplest radical form is 7√30.