If a triangle has aise AB=3, AC=4 and BC=5. what is the altitude from A to side BC?

Question

If a triangle has aise AB=3, AC=4 and BC=5. what is the altitude from A to side BC?

Answer 1

The sides are in the ratio 3:4:5,  which is one of the Pythagorean right triangles, so angle A is 90 degrees.   The area, A, is 

A = (1/2) 3  (4) =  6.      

The area is also equal to:  (1/2) ( the altitude from A to BC) 5

 

6= (5/2) ( altitude from A to BC)   thus

 

altitude from A to BC =  12/5