If the area A of a triangle is 60 sq m (square meters) and the base b is 20 m (meters), what is the

Question

If the area

A of a triangle is 60 sq m (square meters) and the base b is 20 m (meters), what is the altitude h?

A. 6 m

B. 2/3 m

C. 11/2 m

D. 3 m

Answer 1

The altitude of a triangle is equivalent to the height of a triangle.

Recall that the area, A, of a triangle is defined by the following formula:     A = (1/2)bh ,

     where b is the base of the triangle and h is the height of the triangle.

You are given that the area, A, of the triangle in question is 60 m² and its base, b, is 20 m. Plugging these given values into the above formula, we arrive at the following:

         60 = (1/2)(20)h

         60 = (20/2)h

         60 = 10h

To solve for h, divide both sides by 10:

         60/10 = 10h/10

               6 = h

Thus, the height, or altitude, of the triangle is 6 m (answer choice A).